WoW (Women of the World, Raise Your Right Hand)

Text, production, editing: Marge Monko
Voice over: Anne Pajunen (ENG)
3D animation: Erik Heinsalu/BOP
Sound recording: Gregory Caron (ENG)
Sound editing: Jevgeni Berezovski

The point of departure for the video was the slogan Women of the World, Raise Your Right Hand used in De Beers’ advertising campaign in 2003. With this message the company, which until this day controls the majority of mining and distributing rough diamonds, was targeting the women who can afford their own diamond ring. The video consists of footage filmed in Hong Kong and Antwerp, 3D animations, print ads, and other found material.
The voice over text is focusing on De Beers’ marketing strategies through decades, the emergence of the famous slogan A Diamond is Forever, and the creation of a myth of diamonds as symbols of love and commitment.

Nataša & Saša

These two portraits are appropriated from the packaging of perfumes (au de cologne) produced in the Soviet Union in 1970-80s, titled respectively Nataša (for women) and Saša (for men).
The models on the photos are rather Western-looking, a fact that implies the secret desire in the Soviet Union for attractive images related to capitalism.
The images are exhibited next to each other as portraits of lovers.