Two tailed dog

  • Dates
    2017 - 2019
  • Author
  • Topics Social Issues, Contemporary Issues, Documentary
  • Location Hungary, Hungary

Hungary, which lies between the West and the East, has always been looking for its identity and its place on the European map.

The 1848 uprising, the 1920 Treaty of Trianon, or the 1956 revolution – these are the dates which are familiar to every Hungarian and which will be cited in every conversation about what was not successful in the country, but could have been.

The changes which have occurred over the last thirty years have caused the Hungarians’ freedom to become the source of their confusion, and the country appears to be internally divided. The dissatisfaction and disappointment have caused part of society to become an easy target for populist slogans used by those in power.

The government manipulates and exploits the Hungarians’ emotions. It creates a vision of the world full of enemies of the nation. It refers to the idea of patriotism, which is a mix of national pride, a feeling of unfair treatment and a sentiment for the historical Greater Hungary. The authorities’ attention is only seemingly directed to society, while in fact it focuses on gaining and maintaining power.

While photographing contemporary Hungary, I focused on relations between the government and society, which stands between reality and the propaganda vision of a strong state. The photos present symbols, places, events, and in particular they show the human being entangled in the political processes of acquiring power. A person who is easy to buy with simple election slogans.

In my story I do not want to analyse or to draw conclusions. I move intuitively from one place to another, tobe taken in by the sense of being lost in reality created by Victor Orban.

The titular Two-Tailed Dog is a political party founded by a group of artists who, in their performative activities and happenings, mock the authorities and their methods of winning power. Eternal life, free beer, two sunsets a day, or a prohibition ondiseases as a solution to healthcare problems are just some of the slogans out of their election program. Their ironic insight into reality became a key to my narration of Victor Orban’s growing authoritarianism.

© Michal Adamski - Budapest. Scale model of the Parliament building.
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Budapest. Scale model of the Parliament building.

© Michal Adamski - Budapest. A demonstration in defence of the Central European University.
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Budapest. A demonstration in defence of the Central European University.

© Michal Adamski - Budapest. Viktor Orban’s supporters on the day of the National Holiday (15 March).
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Budapest. Viktor Orban’s supporters on the day of the National Holiday (15 March).

© Michal Adamski - Pákozd. National Military Memorial Park.
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Pákozd. National Military Memorial Park.

© Michal Adamski - Image from the Two tailed dog photography project
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Budapest. People leaving home after a fireworks display organized to celebrate the feast day of King Saint Stephen, the first king of Hungary.

© Michal Adamski - Metro in Budapest.
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Metro in Budapest.

© Michal Adamski - Budapest. A picnic organized by the ruling party before the parliamentary elections.
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Budapest. A picnic organized by the ruling party before the parliamentary elections.

© Michal Adamski - Lakitelek. Tichy - Racs József, candidate for the Two-tailed Dog Party’s MP.
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Lakitelek. Tichy - Racs József, candidate for the Two-tailed Dog Party’s MP.

© Michal Adamski - Budapest. Road works in the centre of Budapest.
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Budapest. Road works in the centre of Budapest.

© Michal Adamski - Budapest. The police protecting the building of Hungary’s public radio Magyar Rádió.
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Budapest. The police protecting the building of Hungary’s public radio Magyar Rádió.

© Michal Adamski - Lakitelek. The Two-tailed Dog Party’s camp.
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Lakitelek. The Two-tailed Dog Party’s camp.

© Michal Adamski - Isaszeg. A fan of Karpatia, a national rock band, during a concert.
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Isaszeg. A fan of Karpatia, a national rock band, during a concert.

© Michal Adamski - The Hungarian-Serbian border near Röszke.
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The Hungarian-Serbian border near Röszke.

© Michal Adamski - Budapest. A national holiday picnic.
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Budapest. A national holiday picnic.

© Michal Adamski - Ásotthalom. Hungarian-Serbian border.
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Ásotthalom. Hungarian-Serbian border.

© Michal Adamski - Mohacs. A Danube ferry crossing.
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Mohacs. A Danube ferry crossing.

© Michal Adamski - Budapest. A guard at the Presidential Palace.
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Budapest. A guard at the Presidential Palace.

© Michal Adamski - Segedyn. Hotel Tisza.
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Segedyn. Hotel Tisza.

© Michal Adamski - Lakitelek.
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Lakitelek.

© Michal Adamski - Pákozd. Miskahuszar Statue. The world’s largest Hussar statue (12 meters tall).
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Pákozd. Miskahuszar Statue. The world’s largest Hussar statue (12 meters tall).

© Michal Adamski - Hercegszántó.
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Hercegszántó.

© Michal Adamski - Lakitelek. A happening at the Two-tailed Dog Party’s camp.
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Lakitelek. A happening at the Two-tailed Dog Party’s camp.

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