Disasters of War
A Tapestry of Lies
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 and enact the self defence rule.
Yet we clearly see nothing has changed in human motivation since medieval times except the technology used. The resident numbness and acceptance humans' display when confronted with atrocity. Is represented by the multitude of daily pictures in the public domain, media and social media. Images viscerally representing inhumane actions.
Propaganda is leveraged to accommodate angles of bias. Political societies and government perspectives usually sanitises their role in war, through blame without responsibility. Usually reflecting the depravity of war, committed by opposing sides and declaring their own actions "Just" no matter the atrocities enacted. Justifications persuading others to see their neutralised narratives as truth. These justifications 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 decoration 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 propaganda as truth. Forged iron nails are often used for decorative effect. Gino intended the multiple to be a visual 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.
