Page 134 - ArtUnlimited

traditional tile patterns. In this case there is an outer frame of bands of these images represent a view from both sides and an awareness of the
black, white and gold around a large pattern of stylized white and blue complexities of war and its representation - including the elegant pattern
flowers and leaf-like abstractions on a delicate blue background. Both of the broken helicopter and the beauty of traditional Islamic design.
images remind me of my first visit to see the blue and gold mosaics of
the great mosques in Istanbul. The image of the two American soldiers on patrol repeats the view of the
war in terms of horror and compassion. The beauty of the image is again
The ornate Islamic decoration of Iraq Suite is evidence of the basic an important part of the political statement. The image of the soldiers
direction in traditional art towards art for the sake of art, ‘per puro seen within the frame as well as part of the frame makes them seem
delitto’, for pure pleasure, as Eco writes in The Name of the Rose threatening but also like dancers. In a memorable way the Americans
with some irony. In The Name of the Rose venanzio is an aesthetic and Islam are both presented with optimism about ordinary people and
and extremist interested in connections between the abstraction of our common humanity. The artist has indicated that her images, although
traditional illumination and ideas. He asks whether the cleverness, skill dark in feeling, celebrate humanity in our capacity to admire beauty and
and beauty of illuminated designs leads to speculation in our human emotions of fear and love.
about things in new and surprising ways (‘non inducano a
speculare sulle cose in modo nuovo e sorprendente’) – and Iraq Series is representative of the best contemporary art
he adds that this is a characteristic one expects of wisdom. in the way that it raises questions about art and meaning.
The images are similar to the work of other contemporary
Iraq Suite links the ‘pure’ art of the decorative borders artists who have staged a renewal of modern art with
with a challenging view of the Iraq war. The combination a combination of extravagant aestheticism, great craft
of the Islamic frames and scenes from the war works and a passion for basic human values. As a guide to her
as a trick of perspective or visual puzzle about ways of understanding of the war in Iraq Ashburn has said: ‘while
understanding art and human identity. The ornate design I am against the conduct of the war I have sympathy for
encourages the viewer to expect images from the great both the civilians and the soldiers who remain human
Islamic religious texts and epics - figures in meditation, beings, and in the case of civilians face the task of day to
heroes in battle, figures in an idyllic garden, stylized lovers day living. All are trapped in an unimaginable situation of
and trees, animals and birds. violence, conflict and death.’
Look more closely and the images are different, familiar In The Name of the Rose Umberto Eco writes about war,
but different. The figures and events are pictures you know power and the suffering of ordinary people. His immediate
from newspaper and television reports of the war in Iraq, or similar to focus is the persecution of heresy by the fourteenth-century Roman
those in newspapers and on television over so many years that we tend Catholic Church. william de Baskerville, the wise man of the story,
to forget when the war on terror began. The artist explained that the lectures young Adso on the true nature of heresy. His view is that every
images she rendered have all been published in books or magazines and war against heresy is a war to assert power and privilege, that all heresy
she places them in the beautiful frames ‘to make the viewer look again is a sign of a reality of exclusion, that ordinary people suffer through
at their content and meaning. we become so familiar with such images lack of power, and that it is not the belief that a movement proposes
that they no longer register with us.’ that matters, what matters is the hope that it offers (‘non conta la fede
che un movimento offre, conta la speranza che propone’). The images of
Iraq Suite is political art but it is not about a narrow kind of politics. The Iraq Suite communicate a similar concern with the suffering of ordinary
images are a warning that politics, religion and militarism can become people confronted with the horror of war.
an assertion of power at the expense of the basic human values of
freedom and care for individual people and their bodies. Images such as Axel kruse, English Department, University of Sydney, Australia 2008.
the hooded prisoner holding the child suggest that the full horror of the
war in Iraq involves a loss of basic human rights and values, especially
for the ordinary civilians and the soldiers who fight the war. The later
images in Iraq Suite include a broken American helicopter covered with
a traditional Islamic pattern, and two American soldiers on patrol in 
soLDIER oN sTEps, 2008 wATERCOLOUR AND gOUACHE 7,5X5 IN. /20X13 CM.
a network of ornate Islamic design. The helicopter covered in Islamic
AFTEr THE NEW YOrK NATIONAL GUArd FIrEd A rOCKET THOUGH THE dOOr OF THIs HOUsE
decoration like graffiti echoes the image of the Islamic children playing
IN sAMArrA ONE OF THEIr MEMBErs rETUrNEd THrEE dAYs LATEr TO GIVE THE OWNEr THE
in front of graffiti about the Statue of Liberty. The challenge is that
OPPOrTUNITY TO APPLY FOr COMPENsATION. THE OWNEr WAs NOT AT HOME.
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