Lithuanian artist uses homophobic messages to raise money for LGBT causes - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Lithuanian artist uses homophobic messages to raise money for LGBT causes

Reuters | , Vilnius, Lithuania
Apr 30, 2021 05:58 PM IST

The black-and-white artwork by Erikas Malisauskas, titled "Hate Speech Cloud", consists of 400 offensive messages bundled together in the stylised shape of a cloud.

A Lithuanian artist has raised over $6,000 for LGBT groups by selling a digital collage of homophobic messages that were sent to a member of parliament who champions gay rights causes.

Erikas Malisauskas, a designer, stands next to Hate Speech Cloud, his digital collage of homophobic messages that were sent to a member of parliament who champions gay rights causes, in his apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania April 27, 2021. (REUTERS)
Erikas Malisauskas, a designer, stands next to Hate Speech Cloud, his digital collage of homophobic messages that were sent to a member of parliament who champions gay rights causes, in his apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania April 27, 2021. (REUTERS)

The black-and-white artwork by Erikas Malisauskas, titled "Hate Speech Cloud", consists of 400 offensive messages bundled together in the stylised shape of a cloud.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"My goal was to monetise the hate speech," said Malisauskas. "Now everyone who wrote the hateful messages to LGBT people has contributed money towards LGBT causes."

The messages were originally addressed to Tomas Raskevicius, a well-known figure in Lithuania where he is the first gay rights activist to be elected to parliament.

Malisauskas, who is not gay, said he was shocked by the extreme levels of abuse hurled at Raskevicius and the LGBT community in general.

Among the messages included in the artwork, which are in Lithuanian, are many that used a term of abuse that would translate into the English slur "faggot".

"You are destroying Lithuania and you should be ashamed," says one of the messages.

"Pervert, stop showing yourself to normal Lithuanian people!" says another.

Raskevicius says that on an average day, he gets a few messages like that on social media. But on days when he speaks publicly in support of policies such as introducing same-sex partnerships or ratifying an international treaty against domestic abuse, the number of hateful messages spikes.

He says he usually forwards any threats of physical violence to the police, and posts other messages on his social media feeds to stimulate debate.

"There is no way to tackle the negativity when it's underground. When it's out in the open, we can actually deal with it," he said.

"On the human level, the negativity impacts both mental and emotional health, for sure. One of the coping strategies I employ is to make these messages public, for other people to discuss and express their opinion."

The police have initiated more than 20 criminal investigations into threats sent to Raskevicius.

Malisauskas said the reason why he arranged the messages in the form of a cloud was "because clouds fade away".

He sold the artwork in the form of a non-fungible token or NFT, a type of digital asset verified using blockchain technology. NFTs are increasingly popular in the art world because they allow a file to be permanently authenticated, regardless of copies and downloads.

The sale of "Hate Speech Cloud" was the first of a Lithuanian artwork in the form of an NFT to be publicly announced. The person who bought the NFT wished to remain anonymous.

Explore the art deco structures of Mumbai through a heritage walk with HT! Participate now.

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On