In the "Totems-21" photoseries, I document the juxtaposition of various road signs with signs bearing the names of Warsaw’s districts (code-named E-21). Ignoring the semantic layer of meaning, I see them as abstract, graphic welcome signs, and going a step further—district totems.
One of the functions of totems and similar phenomena is to emphasize the shared identity of a given group. With my project, I want to encourage reflection on the affiliation of residents of specific districts. Highlighting the city's divisions can both deepen local identities and patriotism and increase the potential for clashes between residents of different areas. Is it better to feel more like a Varsovian rather than a resident of Praga, Żoliborz or Ochota, or perhaps the opposite?
"Totems-21" also encourages taking an unconventional perspective on the urban environment, seeking new meanings in everyday conventions, and discovering the city on one’s own terms.
