Tomaž Jelenc
Croatia/Slovenia

‘WTC • World Tour Circus’
Drypoint, Collage, A la poupée,
(Tincan prints),
Approx.: 10 x 17 cm,
on Fabriano 240g
27 x 35 cm
4•2020

https://www.instagram.com/tomajelenc/

Into the vicious circle of a well-organised “World Tour Circus” As a result of our journey through global transition, we have conquered the notion of democracy, evolved to a higher level and enacted values such as egoism and rebellion. The legacy of “Mother Earth” and the responsible task of the ombudsman of the” common estate” has become a” mission impossible “as the common good has been transformed into a” hunting ground “for political, economic and religious tycoons who tirelessly produce the sufficient amount of “nebulosity and fear” needed for a quality daily “breakfast” us ordinary villagers. Kleptocrates in the age of globalisation, the formation of the “New World Order” and virtual dependency, “feeds us” with more than 100,000 visual information a day. Breakfast of champions who, in the process of existence, of the global pandemic of the COVID-19 virus, aware of their helplessness, can only afford a can of food.

Reading Tomaž’s statement makes clear the many layers of thought behind his work, and his critique of our current unsustainable systems – unsustainable environmentally but also socially. The concentration of wealth and resources in the hands of a tiny minority elite is a growing and highly toxic aspect of our current socio-economic model. It also has clear links with environmental protection and saving the planet – even though these links are not always obvious. Many analysts warn that it will be difficult to achieve ‘deep decarbonisation’ on the timescales that science requires without also redistributing resources and opportunity more fairly. We saw a glimpse of this already in France a few years ago with the ‘yellow vests’ protests triggered by an environmental tax on fuel. If environmental policies or green taxes put additional pressures on the poor and vulnerable, without building a ‘just transition’ and fairer society in the process, they may be unlikely to succeed or become law.

On the other hand, during the Corona virus, some governments have been taking some remarkable and positive measures – attaching ambitious environmental conditions to bail outs of whole sectors, introducing Universal Basic Income in Spain, through to opening up miles and miles of car free space in cities and new bike lanes. Will these measures continue after the lockdown is over? What can we do to make sure things go in a positive direction, instead of bailing out the old unsustainable companies and sectors?