The Horrible Truth (2022)

performance and installation
210’
collaborator: Marko Obradović
curator: Voždovac Gallery (Marija Bjelić, Natalija Paunić, Aleksandra Stepanović)
https://vozdovackagalerija.tumblr.com/
https://etcmagazine.art/Marija-Iva-Gocic-Marko-Obradovic 
location: Kula Gallery
Belgrade, Serbia

The Truth and the Lie meet one day. The Lie says to the Truth: "It's a marvellous day today!” The Truth looks up to the skies and sighs, for the day was really beautiful. They spend a lot of time together, ultimately arriving beside a well. The Lie tells the Truth: "The water is very nice, let's take a bath together!" The Truth, once again suspicious, tests the water and discovers that it indeed is very nice. They undress and start bathing. Suddenly, the Lie comes out of the water, puts on the clothes of the Truth and runs away. The furious Truth comes out of the well and runs everywhere to find the Lie and to get her clothes back. The World, seeing the Truth naked, turns its gaze away, with contempt and rage. The poor Truth returns to the well and disappears forever, hiding therein its shame. Since then, the Lie travels around the world, dressed as the Truth.

The Horrible Truth (2022) by Marija Iva Gocić and Marko Obradović is a performance piece accompanied by an installation, paintings and prints inspired by a 19th century legend about the meeting between the personified Truth and Lie. The installation comprises a towering hay well, housing a hidden performance. The exhibited prints and paintings provide atmosphere and narrative suggestions, adding to the situation that is evolving at the bottom of the hay-made well. Using unsettling fairy tale imagery, the piece delves into the concept of truth and deception, revealing how perceptions of reality might be distorted or manipulated. Drawing from the legend, the durational performance within the well reimagines the Truth and Lie narrative. Viewing requires ascending the well's height. When the onlookers peek into the well, the Truth at the bottom tries to charm them with a smile, yet remains determined in staying concealed.