#jb

‘Fuck poverty’ (‘jebac biede’ in Polish) is a phrase used in colloquial speech and online, popularised in the form of the hashtag #jb. It expresses crude contempt for poverty and admiration for what is expensive and luxurious. The phrase is often used ironically by people aspiring to a higher status that is, however, beyond their reach. The abbreviation ‘jb’ might just as well stand for ‘fuck wealth’ (‘jebac bogactwo’ in Polish). This phenomenon (pretending to have a lower status) is known, among other things, as ‘poor chic’ (the aesthetics of poverty) or ‘poor tourism’. In both cases, we are dealing with a desire to be someone other than who one is.

The work, realised as a stained-glass window, blends into the existing architecture and style of the building. The virtual message has been materialised using craft techniques associated with high and timeless material value (not least due to their uniqueness), standing in contrast to the ephemeral form of the hashtag (#), whose power is determined by popularity and the number of repetitions.