The Memorial Concept

---

Over the past century, more than 200 million people worldwide have suffered under the grip of totalitarian regimes. Surprisingly, there hasn't been a single memorial dedicated to their victims that addresses the core issue of this dangerous social disease.

Many countries have chosen to suppress shameful periods of their history, avoiding meaningful discussions on totalitarianism in the global community for years. As a result, modern society has forgotten the true evil of totalitarianism. Now, we're witnessing its resurgence, with lives being taken in the heart of Europe.

We often think of freedom as a societal achievement, with totalitarianism being the work of evil forces. However, a look back into history reveals that totalitarianism emerges as a reaction to crises, with society seeking centralized authority to impose order and solve social problems. Ironically, it's the people themselves who create these regimes, only to become their victims later on.

The idea behind the Memorial is simple yet profound: totalitarian regimes arise and thrive with the support of society, with ordinary people unwittingly contributing to systems that ultimately destroy them.

People do not become enslaved suddenly due to a chain that binds them once in the morning. This chain is constructed, link by link, through the malevolent forces in the darkness of our indifference. Our silent consent facilitates the ascent of evil. Thus, we find ourselves both victims and villains simultaneously.

Totalitarianism remains a constant threat to society, as its formation is directly tied to democratic mechanisms. The Memorial serves as a reminder that we, the people, are responsible for preventing the tragedies of totalitarianism from repeating in the future.

The imagery linked with totalitarianism is widely recognized - people universally endorse the actions of authority and the system. Individuality finds no place within these depictions, mirroring its absence in totalitarian systems.

At the core of the Memorial are the hands of voters, the primary symbol. Scattered across the site, these hands stand as a poignant representation. Their identities are obscured, their personalities irrelevant. The system consumes their votes, relegating them to an existence buried alive. Initially towering at 4.5 meters, these hands gradually descend until they barely breach 0.5 meters above ground, symbolizing their gradual descent into oblivion.

As visitors navigate the site, they find themselves surrounded by towering hands of the anonymous majority. The Memorial prompts interaction with this oppressive force, illustrating the illusion of control exerted by the unified vote. Meanwhile, the majority persists in casting ballots, even as they are being buried by the system.

Encircling the Memorial's center are metal pedestals detailing the history, crimes, and victims of past and present dictatorships and totalitarian regimes. Among them, one bears the inscription: "Totalitarianism is never far. First, it takes our votes. Then it takes our lives."

The Memorial stands as a timeless tribute to the countless souls lost to the grip of totalitarianism—a scourge that engulfed entire nations. It boldly confronts the root causes behind the rise of oppressive regimes and dictatorships.

This Memorial isn't just a monument; it's a catalyst for global dialogue, reigniting conversations about the horrors of totalitarianism, from Nazism and Fascism to Communism. It serves as a solemn reminder that the sacrifices of the past must never be in vain, urging us to safeguard against the repetition of such dark chapters in human history.