From an article on the artist Kawita Vatanajyankur:

“[…] Other videos, like ‘The Carrying Pole,’ above, suggest torments worthy of Dante or ancient mythology. And some audiences have asked whether she had a political aim, or if she meant to criticize abusive interrogation tactics like waterboarding in these endurance works. […]”    —Daniel McDermon, The New York Times, September 13, 2017