Aftermath: The Fallout of War addresses the physical and emotional conditions of civilian populations caught in war’s wake, and the impact of war on cities, homes, and the environment. It includes images from Iraq and Afghanistan, the Arab Uprisings, Syria’s Civil War, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian regions. Aftermath expands new territories largely unexamined in traditional war coverage through more than 90 photographs and videos by twelve artists (many from the Middle East) who combine a rigorous journalism with fine art sensibilities. Each photographer claims an oblique, moral imperative that cautions viewers against binary thinking (us/them; good/bad), urging instead a wider consciousness and compassion toward the repercussions of war for all involved. Artists: Lynsey Addario, Jananne Al-Ani, Stephen Dupont, Jennifer Karady, Gloriann Liu, Ben Lowry, Rania Matar, Eman Mohammed, Simon Norfolk, Fara Nosh, Suzanne Opton, Michal Rovnar.
Aftermath is organized by the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida and made possible by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Harn 25th Anniversary Fund, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the Joanne L. and Edward R. Block Charitable Trust, with additional support from the Harn Curator of Photography Endowment.
The Gund Gallery exhibitions and programs are made possible, in part, by the Gund Gallery Board of Directors and the Ohio Arts Council.
Image: Lynsey Addario, Killis Camp, Turkish/Syrian Border in Turkey, October 22, 2013. Archival pigment print. Courtesy of the artist.
As the director of the Gund Gallery and your event’s tour guide, I was sincerely saddened to see your comment because the evening was intended to provide an open forum for exchange among all of us as friends and neighbors. It was my intent to provide a balanced introduction to the exhibition entitled Aftermath: The Fallout of War—America and the Middle East. My explanations about the exhibition and its artists and artworks were meant to describe the intentions, ideas and perceptions of the artists, the curator, and even some of the people photographed, ranging from the Syrian refugees and Lebanese street orphans to Afghanistan’s many maimed civilians and U.S. veterans suffering from PTSD. I did share my own personal feelings of sadness and regret for the depth and range of suffering the images depict. Perhaps I should have clarified that those feelings came from a very human place and were not meant to reflect either a Republican or Democratic position. I mentioned Trump in reference to one of our artists, a Lebanese-American photographer who was on campus earlier in the day, because she and we felt fortunate that she was able to return to the U.S. just days before Trump’s surprising and controversial travel ban on several countries in the Middle East. I think it is fair and factual, as I stated the other night, to suggest our exhibitions are very timely given our American election and its volatile aftermath. We are living in a very divided country and historical moment and our museum strives to be a source for thoughtful and responsible dialogue about complex issues; a place where people can come together and learn from each other. Should you or your friends wish to share your perspectives over a cup of coffee or walk through the gallery again, I would appreciate the opportunity to have a conversation. We are neighbors. We probably have a lot in common. I look forward to it and can be reached at marshn@kenyon.edu.
While I enjoyed the gallery last night, you have now lost mine and several other people’s donations to the college because of your tour leader’s constant liberal, anti-Trump remarks during the evening. I’m sorry that your candidate lost. Mine lost the last two elections. Yet, I would never think to make the comments your person made last night during an event – especially one that could affect how people give to the college. There are several of us who will not be giving this year because of this person. Maybe you should think and train your personnel better to keep their opinions to themselves.
In spite of the comments made, your exhibit was very good.
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I would like to sincerely thank the Gund Gallery for hosting our organization this week and opening their doors to the local community for a special private tour. I appreciated Dr. Marsh’s hospitality and very informative and insightful presentation. The information was very thoughtful and brought the emotion of the exhibition home to many that attended that night. The photography, particularly in the Aftermath exhibition, truly moved me and caused deep personal reflection on how fragile our own surroundings can be. I will be returning to this show to allow myself to further appreciate the quality of the work presented.