Constructing a Hero: From Physical Labor to Historical Discourses

Constructing a Hero: From Physical Labor to Historical Discourses)

by Job van Aken, independent researcher and artist

Taking the excavation and reburial of Imre Nagy and other executed martyrs of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution as a starting point, this project investigates the physical work involved in reshaping historical narratives. It examines how objects such as statues, memorials, and graves are relocated, renovated, and altered, as political actors seek to define desired futures by reinterpreting the past.

Who are the people who do the physical labor that has to be done for societal paradigm shifts, and how do they interpret their role? By examining the perspectives of these workers, this research seeks to broaden the concept of heroism and explore the interplay of labor, memory, and societal change in Hungary.

The research will serve as a foundation for a creative film project that merges archival material with original contemporary documentary footage.