Esse Est TikTok

stone, gypsum

13 х 13 х 40 см

2023

Esse Est Tiktok is an ironic commentary on our modern culture, where digital technologies are intertwined with eternal questions of existence. This paradoxical statement, engraved on stone, plays with concepts: the Latin language, as a symbol of eternity, grandeur, and philosophical rigor, is unexpectedly combined with the name of a popular social network.

This statement contains a profound philosophical subtext: if, in the past, true knowledge was embedded in eternity, and the foundation of reality lay in static forms of existence, today existence is reduced to fleeting moments meticulously measured by social networks and platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and others, which have become the main arenas for self-expression and the search for identity.

The hand holding this stone references the famous gesture of Plato depicted in Raphael’s fresco "The School of Athens."

Combined into a sculptural composition, they draw a parallel between the ancient philosophical tradition and the modern state of public consciousness. It suggests that today, perhaps, we have replaced the pursuit of enlightenment with an endless stream of digital captions, turning our existence into a series of short but vivid moments. The irony of the inscription, paired with the classical motif of the gesture, serves as a reminder that even in the age of social media, humanity’s striving for knowledge and truth remains unchanged.

Exhibited:
«Beyond the Shadow». M17 Art Center. Kyiv, Ukraine.
«Art After 2000: Glossary.». National Center "Ukrainian House". Kyiv, Ukraine.

(photo © Vadim Smarchenko)