It's a sarcastic grotesque multi-year project in which the artist confronts the social media and neoliberalism-driven compulsion to be an “it girl” - the best version of herself. For one continuous performance, lasting five years and entitled Kobazan, the artist's alter ego Nna Oklicka has created over 80 products, thousands of photos, videos, magazines, a YouTube channel and an online store. Having been trapped by consumerism, the only way out for Joanna Zaboklicka was to create an alter ego that became the literal embodiment of the neoliberal dream: the designer, model, seller and consumer, all in one.
The Project was initiated in 2014, in Professor Jarosław Kozakiewicz’s studio at the Design Department of
Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, and was continued after the author’s graduation. In January 2020 the project was ended with KOBAZAN LIVE performance: scenography of a shop where nothing can be bought, only taken, set the tension between need, performer, object and audience. During the performance in the space of a surrealist store, the audience could see two Kobazan newspapers - the main result of 5 years of work.
Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, and was continued after the author’s graduation. In January 2020 the project was ended with KOBAZAN LIVE performance: scenography of a shop where nothing can be bought, only taken, set the tension between need, performer, object and audience. During the performance in the space of a surrealist store, the audience could see two Kobazan newspapers - the main result of 5 years of work.
Press
Views from Kobazan Live Performance, January 2020
2014-2020