A Klick-Klack toy (Jacob’s Ladder) that presents two opposing characters (the Naive and the Paranoid). The first enjoys life, but their enjoyment might stem from ignorance, while the second lives in a state of constant fear, fueled by a dishonest news cycle. For the Paranoid I used fake news ”popular” in Romania, like the idea that the EU citizens will be forced to eat bugs (certain insect were approved as ”novel food source” in 2025) or that all types of cards are evil, because the reversed spelling of ”card” is ”drac”, meaning devil. And while the source of these fears is perhaps easy to understand, after all, the unknown has always been suspicious, be it exotic lands or technology, the mechanics through which this information is disseminated deserves it’s own investigation.
Acrylic paint on cardboard, repurposed letter opener, 2025.
