Republic

“Republics end through luxury; monarchies through poverty.”

Montesquieu
16th sentence of the 30 Movements cycle

On the 1st of November, All Saints’ Day, the ordinary citizen paused for a moment to face the dying process of the best system of all. Standing in Republic Square, she tries to bid farewell to the skeleton of a noble idea and accept the signs of its decay. As she watches the beloved Republic die at the hands of capital, she contemplates the illusion of prosperity and justice. Goodbye, Republic. Hello, new illusions.

Republic
Video • 3’02”

Concept and direction — Bojan Jablanovec
Text and performance — Anita Wach
Camera — Rok Kajzer Nagode
Producer — Špela Trošt
Production — Via Negativa

Recorded
01-11-2022, Republic Square, Ljubljana