On Friday 14th June 2018 the Citizen exhibition at Swiss Cottage Library was vandalised and 15 of my Polaroids were stolen. The perpetrator removed the bottom screws from the perspex coverings (taking the screws with them) and slid the Polaroids out leaving a trail of blood behind them. The pictures appeared to be randomly selected and only 9 remained. We never found out why, but the show continued to its advertised end with the statement (below) pinned to the wall.
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS RELEASED BY THE ARTISTS TASH KAHN AND JOHN ROS AFTER THE EXHIBITION WAS VANDALISED. NEITHER THE GALLERY NOR THE COUNCIL EVER RELEASED AN OFFICIAL PUBLIC STATEMENT:
Citizen was a project conceived on the parameters of equality. This collaboration between two artists took time to develop, produce and execute. Many wonderful people were involved. It was offered in this public space for all.
Citizen is a public project that was vandalised. Works were removed by a member of the public. Motivations are still unknown.
Citizen will continue. Being a citizen (legal or not) of any space if difficult. We must be vigilant to hold those in power accountable and to support our neighbours — like-minded and not. It is not always HOW we react, but that we KEEP reacting to the injustices perpetrated in our name.
— Tash Kahn and John Ros, July 2018
Tash Kahn 