Maja Bajevic

b. 1967, Bosnia & Hercogovina

There is a noticeable misuse of religion nowadays, which has a whole range of characteristics that separate these new religions, turbo-religions or techno-religions from those that man has been killing in the name of through the centuries. The term turbo-religion signifies for me a form of religion adapted to the comfort of the individual. Through these personalised religions the individual is able to express his difference from the ones not belonging to the same religion, and his connection to the ones belonging to the group. The other part of the game is even worse – nationalism and hatred witch are easily expressed through these turbo-religions. All that in the name of God.

This new way of interpreting religion is not only hurting the religious feeling itself, but is also a sign of deep moral insufficiency and conformism in its worst sense. I am taking different roles from the wide range of new religions, turbo-religions or techno-religions. People feel they have the right to hypocritically reinterpret their religion, and are even proud of it. I want to show the face of nationalism disguised in religion. Contradictions that are usually hidden are coming out. Contradictions that no-one is questioning anymore.

The characters, all of which are played by me, say things like: ‘I don’t eat pork. I do not drink during the Ramadan. But I take ecstasy.’ Or ‘I go to church. I rape women.’ Putting myself in the role of the interpreter of intellectual and moral rape, I also want to show the displacement one can feel in a world of hidden lies and violence.

(Text: imagine limerick catalogue, 2004)