The Dirty Work (2026)
Paint on 3D print
12 pieces, installation; 65 x 300 cm

The Dirty Work consists of sculptures developed in response to the German Chancellor’s appropriation of the expression die “Drecksarbeit”, or “dirty work,” in June 2025 while discussing Israel’s attacks on Iran.

The term “dirty work” refers to ethically controversial actions. It commonly describes illegal, immoral, or covert activities.
When a head of state publicly endorses the expression “dirty work,” it sends a powerful message to society that such actions are being legitimized. This rhetoric suggests that laws, values, and moral norms can be stretched according to time and circumstance, and that ethically problematic decisions may be considered acceptable under certain conditions.

In The Dirty Work project, the letters forming this phrase assume the roles assigned to them with the authority of official discourse. Rotating 360° and extending into space, they transform into sculptural forms reminiscent of military ammunition. Using BundesSans, the official typeface of the German federal government, these letters render visible the violence embedded in political rhetoric that makes civilian casualties invisible.

Photo 1-11: Nazlı Erdemirel, 16: Todd-White

Video below: Lee Pretious Studio