This is fine?
Through this work, I aim to confront the disconcerting phenomenon of complacency that surrounds us in the face of a world engulfed in flames.
Living in an era of unprecedented global challenges, social injustice, political unrest, climate change and ecological devastation have become an everyday reality. Yet, despite the urgency of these issues, there exists a disturbing complacency—an apathy that permeates our societies. It is a collective resignation in the face of catastrophe, as if watching the world burn has become the new norm.
The overwhelming and intimidating nature of addressing all these problems may lead some to choose to ignore or deny their existence. Localised crises, such as housing and cost of living issues, can consume our energy and attention, making it difficult to focus on larger issues. This can create a feeling that these problems are deliberately used to keep people focused on immediate concerns and prevent them from addressing broader systemic issues.
The question of whether it is easier to ignore and pretend that societal problems are not happening due to their overwhelming nature and the presence of localised crises is a complex one. It involves considerations of individual and collective responses to challenges, as well as the potential impact of these responses on broader societal issues.
But this is fine right?
Fiona Hession is a County Galway based Visual Artist and Arts worker.
REF: This Is Fine is a two-pane image of an anthropomorphic dog trying to assure himself that everything is fine, despite sitting in a room that is engulfed in flames. Taken from an issue of the webcomic series Gunshow illustrated by K.C. Green and published in early January 2013, the cartoon is typically used as a reaction image (meme) to convey a sense of self-denial or acceptance in the face of a hopeless situation.
This work was was commissioned by The Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
