Opus 2012, Symphony No 27 ("Europa")

2013

In 'Opus 2012, Symphony No. 27 (“Europa”)', the European Parliament, namely, the foremost symbol of the democratic will of the European people, is empty of MEPs. But, on a symbolic level, it is also devoid of the real power required to forward the dream of European unification. In the video, the lights of the Parliament are gradually lit and the soundtrack alludes to the imminent beginning of an orchestral performance (literally a musical performance, but, metaphorically, any action that necessitates coordination and collaboration). In reality, however, the lights are switched on in vain, since the room remains empty throughout the video, and the orchestra of the soundtrack never finishes warming up in preparation for a performance that, actually, never takes place. Notably, however, the political crisis in Europe is in no way a unique case. Prompted by the global financial crisis of 2008 and, then, the Eurozone crisis, which has been accompanied and/or followed by multiple other crisis (refugee, energy, climate) citizens around the world feel today less politically empowered than ever before in recent times, and largely unable to produce change through their democratically elected representatives. Confidence in democracy and its institutions has been undermined by these conditions and this context of demerit constitutes a real danger for the future character and values of our societies. In the years that have followed the Eurozone crisis, this has been emphatically confirmed by political developments such as Brexit, the election and Presidency of Donald Trump, and the multiple wins of far-right parties in elections around the world.