Krzysztof Wodiczko, photo: Ewa Harabasz
Drones are often associated with images of war, surveillance, intrusion and fear, but in the case of Loro (Them), the artist will quite literally anthropomorphise the aircrafts to reclaim a broader conversation about technology’s relationship to humanity. During the performance, four drones will be equipped with two screens showing only the eyes of the people involved in the project. A megaphone-like mouth will amplify each participant’s story with candor and frankness. Faces will not be shown to protect the individuals’ identities, but the eyes and the voice will create a relationship with, and at times directly address, the public.
Each drone represents a person, elaborating on the lived experience not only of immigration, but more generally of social and political marginalisation, addressing highly topical issues such as co-habitation, citizenship, representation, and even hospitality. The title of the project immediately emphasises the distance that is created between those who are mistakenly considered different – highlighting the all too familiar 'them' versus 'us' dichotomy. At the same time, the artist seeks to cancel this divisive space, putting audiences face to face, albeit virtually, with real stories and real individuals.
