Lament of Warfare, 2024
2 x 2 x 2 meters
Wood structure, 10-meter length of hand-sewn textile that is hand-painted with 'Dictatorship Blue,' sound, Arabic Bakhur, and strobe lights.
My artistic research project manifests as an installation that introduces methods using tactility, smell, light, and audio to explore the palpable tensions between seductive and immersive qualities and discomfort and deliberately unsettling physical experiences. Lament of Warfare manifests as an installation, taking the form of a 2 x 2-meter cube enveloped in a custom-made color I coined Dictatorship Blue. Situated at the center of a large room, the cube is intentionally designed to be cryptic, prompting individuals to discern the entry mechanism and subsequently explore its interior.
An audio work featuring a humming sound by Jordanian/Palestinian visual artist and vocalist Raghad Resres accompanies this physical object and is inspired by a Levantine lullaby. This auditory component is crafted to evoke both curiosity and intimidation and serve as a method of interrogation and forewarning. In my installation, the use of scent plays a crucial role. I incorporated Arabic Bakhour, a traditional Middle Eastern incense, to evoke a sense of home and comfort typical of Middle Eastern households. This choice of scent is meant to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a “Middle Eastern” home, which can be particularly poignant in times of conflict. During war, a home represents both a sanctuary of safety and a potential site of danger, especially when bombings occur nearby. This duality home as a refuge and a place of peril is a central theme in my work. The fundamental concept underpinning the project revolves around inducing disturbance and cultivating a perceptible sense of unease and discomfort among those who are willing to engage with the work.
From Speculative Gatherings exhibition at Slakthuset in Göteborg, 2024. ©Peter Nylund
The installation's interior is intentionally left in a raw, chaotic, and incomplete state. This design choice challenges visitors' expectations and conventional notions of “Middle Eastern” aesthetics. By presenting an unrefined space, I aim to provoke a shift in how we perceive and understand the war trauma and lived experiences of marginalized individuals.
Inside view along with the sound and strobe lights installation
I have worked on this 10-meter-long textile piece, entirely hand-painted using a brush with Dictatorship Blue paint. The painting process took 48 hours to finish.
View of the wooden structure.