Chasing Shadows

Suspended by a hangman’s rope, an aged and worn steel beam hangs in fragile equilibrium. Despite its inherent strength, it shows signs of wear: damaged, rusted, worn by time. Upon it rests a magnetic European flag clinging to the corroded surface, an unstable presence on an already precarious structure. The steel beam reflects the uncertainty of today’s Europe, caught between crises and shifting political horizons. The weight of the war in Ukraine, the shadow of past leaderships and the spectre of geopolitical instability place the continent in a delicate position: neither falling, nor standing firm — simply suspended, waiting. The rope wrought from hemp evokes historical symbols of execution and judgement. It suggests an uncertain destiny. Is Europe on the brink of collapse, or will it recover its balance? The flag, held by magnetism alone, speaks of alliances formed not through deep roots but through forces that can shift and detach with time. This work embodies the tension of an era in which power, stability and identity feel increasingly fragile. It asks the viewer: how long can something remain in equilibrium before gravity takes its toll?