Disasters of War
Goya expressed so eloquently the truth about the "Disasters of War" showing man's inhumanity to man. Since then politicians and power seekers from all corners of the earth claim war is manageable, protecting the innocent is key with designer laws are in place to do that.
Yet we clearly see nothing has changed, except the resident numbness and acceptance we feel when confronted with the daily pictures in the public domain and the diverse communication mediums. Projected information is pivoted to accommodate the angle of bias and propaganda each side portrays. The political society or government perspective usually sanitises their role in war through blame without responsibility, reflecting the depravity of war committed by opposing sides, declaring their own actions "Just". Proffered justifications persuading others to see a neutralised narrative reflected as truth. These reflections become psychological towers of persuasion for "Power", "Control" or "Money" and have very little to do with truth and are more to do with palatable decorative effect and propaganda.
For this installation Gino nailed each of the 48 panels to the wall using "forged" iron nails symbolising the fakery of reality and truth for propaganda, forged iron nails are often used for decorative effect. Gino intended the multiple to be a conversation with Goya's Disasters of War, the Apocalypse and Bayeux tapestries.
In the middle ages tapestries were usually hung on walls in the homes of the wealthy and powerful. Illusions for perceived grandeur, knowledge, status and power.
During the installation Gino invited visitors to respond to the installation through sound. Gino recorded the vocal interactions of the visitors to the exhibition to create a vocal piece played during the final days of the installation.
After the exhibition Gino used the recordings to produce a sound piece titled "Cry"
It Only Takes a Second
We are all subject to authority and without sovereign protection knowing our day to day existence is completely out with our control. Imperialism and dictatorship use systems of control causing humans' to become isolated and stripped of sovereign power. The vulnerability, suspense and horror imposed by the state on individuals isolated and stripped of the freedom to live a democratic life protected by the law is hidden by the state in many ways. The biological right to exist becomes redundant and life is ripped away with impunity.
