Growing Up Today: The Anxieties of TikTok's Generation

Teenagers in Poland are grappling with the anxieties of growing up amidst a backdrop of global turmoil, including war, pandemics, and ecological concerns. Artists from the fra fra fra collective, aged 10 to 13, have channeled these experiences into an art installation titled "Teenager's Room" at the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw.

The installation, accessed through a dark tunnel, confronts visitors with the stark realities faced by these young individuals. Their world is defined by words like "power outages, occupation, displacement, emigration, ecological disaster, downed drones, missile attacks, and loss." These terms, learned at a young age, shape their understanding of the world and their place within it.

The exhibition reflects on the universal, yet particularly acute, experience of adolescence – the transition from childhood to adulthood, fraught with uncertainty. The artists' work draws parallels to famous artworks depicting the anxieties of growing up, such as Edvard Munch's "Puberty" and Picasso's "Boy with a Pipe," highlighting the timeless struggles with self-discovery and fear of the unknown.

Through "Teenager's Room," the young artists not only express their personal anxieties but also offer a poignant commentary on the broader challenges faced by a generation coming of age in a world marked by conflict and instability. The exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and creativity of youth in navigating complex and often harsh circumstances.

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power outages, occupation, displacement, emigration, ecological disaster, downed drones, missile attacks. And loss, loss, loss…