April has been a busy month. The second leg of the Art of Remembrance Project opened in Turin and closer to home, I was part of an exhibition which explores the sensory experiences of conflict from a variety of perspectives - artists, academics, film makers and those working in the realms of memory and legacy. As the exhibition considered the sensory traces of conflict-related trauma it made me wonder, conversely, what after effects of war do those who wage it suffer - if at all? A scan of recent news headlines is enough to show that the effects of war have always been divided. There are those who suffer and those who profit. Worse yet are those who manipulate markets from a distance enhancing their own personal and often obscene wealth while impoverishing others who had little left to lose. What impact can exhibtions such as these have during times of international conflict? The answer is not clear to me but what I do know is that doing something is better than doing nothing. Giving voice to memories and hidden stories, highlighting forgotten injustices and acknowledging the wrongs of the past are ways to reject the inevitabilty of war. It is a way to promote dialogue and understanding of the 'other' , a way to engage with versions of the past which we may not have experienced or agreed with and a way to include one's own history and memory into the narrative. Sadly, there will always be a war somewhere and so there will always be a need for exhibitions which reflect on conflict from a variety of perspectives.
RSS Feed