Raided

Raided, the new book from Ditto, continues the work of anonymous artist Counterfuture, who draws on a background in international law enforcement to explore non-artistic visual materials. The book uses operational photos and footage from Ukrainian law enforcement, publicly shared on social media, to examine the interplay between authority, media, and society.

The images document raids on brothels and strip clubs, showing arrests and evidence seizures with little regard for photographic artistry or privacy (faces are blurred in the book). These materials, created as bureaucratic records for legal purposes, are repurposed here to question how authority uses visual language to communicate power and control.

By removing the images from their original context, Raided provokes reflection on the relationship between state and society, the voyeuristic portrayal of fear and vulnerability, and the truths—or fabrications—conveyed by operational imagery. It raises questions about authenticity, bias, and the ethics of reproducing such material:

What do these images truly reveal about human relationships, authority, and justice?

How do they shape our understanding of truth, reality, and critical thinking about images?

Does their publication achieve authority's aims, or reinforce the invasions they depict?

Hardback, velvet covered 
Edition: First Edition of 1000
Published by: Ditto
Size: 160 x 205mm
Pages: 260
Year: 2024