The figurative sculpture titled “You Can Buy Me” I unofficially installed to commemorate the International Day for the Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on August 23. on Piccadilly Circus.
The artwork aims to accentuate the theme of slavery, raise awareness about this pressing issue, and foster a societal discussion about fundamental human rights and values. I want to inspire people to reflect on their responsibility and stance towards this problem and encourage them to take appropriate action.
Contemporary slavery is a serious problem that violates fundamental human rights. It is associated with exploitation, affects people across various sectors and concerns different social realities. Each one of us bears some responsibility for the existence of this problem, whether directly or indirectly.
The sculpture features a pyramidal composition with a figure representing a slave at its top. The base of this pyramid consists of ten boxes symbolizing consumption, with inscriptions referring to fundamental human rights.
The high level of consumption and demand for goods is one of the factors contributing to contemporary slavery, which is why I chose the symbolism of cardboard boxes.