Annihilation Core, Inherited Lore ٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶

Cute eyes, thirst trap hotties, cosy rugs, soft pillows, and adorable trinkets – beyond these plush comforts and meticulous attention to decor, an unsettling atmosphere lurks. The popular online aesthetic operates in the service of the exaltation of war culture. Used as a lure to attract, the kawaii-fication of violence seduces and gamifies those who encounter it, welcoming the misogynistic, supremacist, and racist neo-ideologies it seeks to glorify.

Influenced by gamer-girl and otaku room aesthetics, and drawing from recent events such as NATO’s inaugural gaming tournament—where global participants competed while engaging with alliance experts—the installation accelerates these online subcultures toward an undesirable yet likely future. From a remote-controlled military operations desktop station, amidst plushies and UAV drone models, visitors can explore the evolving fusion of the military-entertainment complex and gaming culture, and their entanglements with digital militarism and modern armies’ recruiting strategies.

The exhibition is additionally supported by the Italian Cultural Institute in Ljubljana.