This artistic action and the sculpture of Calimero aim to remind us of two different, but closely connected, injustices. On the one hand, Calimero speaks loudly about Macedonia, which for years has faced numerous injustices and blockages on its path toward the European Union. On the other hand, the same Calimero cannot help but note that, although there may be no justice for Macedonia in the process of European integration, there is no justice within Macedonia either.
Insufficient rule of law, corruption, a dysfunctional judiciary and weak institutions are among the key criticisms that the European Union has been directing for years at the country, which remains stuck on its path toward EU membership.
That is why Calimero loudly opposes this state of affairs and reminds us that without justice, there can be neither a dignified life nor a European future.
In a certain sense, Calimero actually represents the ordinary citizen of Macedonia, who faces injustice every day — from a slow and inefficient judiciary and corruption to problems in healthcare, education and public administration, all places where injustice prevails and against which Calimero fights.That is why the message of this action is simple: we are all Calimero. For years, we have been seeking justice, while increasingly being left with the feeling that, for the ordinary citizen, it remains out of reach. Or, simply, as Calimero would say: “It’s not fair” – a catchphrase which for Macedonian cartoons was translated literally as “There is no justice!”
“Through this artistic intervention, we want to encourage public debate on whether justice will remain only a promise or finally become a reality — both in Macedonian institutions and in the European Union’s treatment of Macedonia,” CAC explained.
Otherwise, just like Calimero, who in the end always goes somewhere else, more and more Macedonian citizens will be forced to seek happiness, dignity and justice outside their own country.
The action has been installed in the small square near Kim on Prva Partizanska and is the work of the group Urban Artistic Actions.
