The work depicts a commonly encountered phenomenon of unwanted life advice and tips that inundate us during family gatherings from representatives of the older generation. These "kind" expressions of interest often leave us feeling embarrassed, generating pressure and expectations that we either don't want or cannot meet. They become a reason for our withdrawal from relationships that demand our conformity to their norms.
In my presentation of the "makatka," I incorporated traditional patterns of Wielkopolska embroidery with life advice and critical remarks I've heard during family gatherings, whether at home or with relatives and friends. Similar phrases are familiar to everyone and often come from the mouths of grandmothers, mothers, uncles.
They are frequently spoken with concern and worry, intending to support a young person on their challenging journey through adulthood. However, they impose a set of values and a lifestyle adopted by older generations,
which in today's reality becomes outdated for many of us.
which in today's reality becomes outdated for many of us.
There is also a lack of understanding for our different choices, influenced, for example, by environmental changes
(such as giving up meat consumption).
(such as giving up meat consumption).
The work was presented at the Digital Confrontations exhibition at the Zbrojownia Sztuki in Gdańsk in October 2022.