My grandfather fled fascism in his home of eastern Hungary in 1938. At the age of four he sailed across the Atlantic with his family to be greeted by Lady Liberty. I am here today because they were able to get out. Most were not given that opportunity and were subjected to the horrors of The Holocaust.
As I took this photo in November 2021, I reflected upon the privilege I was given through the weight of my ancestors leaving their home for a foreign land. I pondered the ways the world has changed since my late grandfather was welcomed by the very same symbol of hope that I was now witnessing. And then I remembered the ways the world hasn’t changed much at all. A boat that was conveniently in frame glitched into the ghost representation of my grandfather's vessel.
To me the circuitbent glitching of The Statue of Liberty represents a new era: updated interpretations of what liberty means and how we can use technology to achieve it. Glitch to me is the transformation of brokenness to the best of our ability. How do we take this broken world full of broken systems and make the best of it? This photo was so special to me I couldn't decide when to publish it. I wanted to reflect on it privately longer. But today, I knew it was time.
America seldom lives up to the ideals of freedom, refuge, and opportunity ascribed to it. What Lady Liberty represents to me as a descendant of immigrants can symbolize something more oppressive and harsh to others who were not shown the same kindness. I aim to use the opportunity my ancestors provided me to spread and reinforce the ideals she represents regardless of how well current governments embody them. I push for freedom and opportunity independent of geography or heritage.
Title references “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus 1883
