About Unicorn Blood

Overview
The series consists of four paintings on the theme of the recurrence of forced migration, rejection and misunderstanding. The foreground is an extract from an interview with recent Russian refugees. The middle layer is their portrait literally trapped. The background is dedicated to events from a century ago, the exile of Russian intellectuals in 1920.
Russian activists who oppose the government find themselves in a vulnerable position. Those who speak out are punished twice. Compulsory military service, prison or worse awaits in their home country, but settling in a new place becomes increasingly difficult. Discussions about residence permits arise, clients stay away and friends are lost solely on the basis of their nationality or place of birth. People become uprooted, all homesick for a homeland that is no longer a home.

A hundred years ago, Russia also repelled its own people. Just after the 1917 revolution, political opponents were faced with a choice: Forget Russia and move to another country or die. This parallel forms the background of each painting.

  1. Philosophical ship, a ship full of writers, artists and philosophers being expelled from Russia, 1922.
  2. Political dissidents waiting in lines for trains and ships to leave Russia, not everybody could escape. 1922.
  3. Arrival in new countries (Paris, Prague, Berlin, Belgrade and Sofia). Now being refugees, still scared but needing to settle in a new place, 1922.
  4. Houses of people that needed to flee their country. Now and then. 2022/1922.
For me, people's actions and opinions are literally at the forefront. Those who speak out against a regime are punished twice. The consequences of activism are so harsh that people need to leave, but settling in a new place becomes increasingly difficult. People become uprooted, all homesick for a homeland that is no longer a home.