Exhibition investigates psychology of war
Published Thursday October 9th, 2008
Check it out until October 17 at UNB's Memorial Hall.
The common term for war amongst soldiers is "theatre." In kids' play, muscular G.I. Joes are blown to imaginary bits protecting Lego strongholds. A gas mask, meant to protect against the inhalation of poisonous fumes, easily becomes a funny looking toy. Whether horrific or humorous, innocence or intent, euphemisms for tragedy and death pervade our culture, and are an essential part of the human identity.
The current exhibition at the UNB Arts Centre in Fredericton is an investigation into the psychology of war. Head-Games; hoods, helmets & gasmasks is a show of drawings and video by Montreal artist Sophie Jodoin, and is organized by Gallery Connexion.
Jodoin has morphed instruments of torture and war into objects that are both human and non-human.
"The examination of war, its victims, and dehumanization conforms to a consistent interest in my career: the human figures as psychological sign," Jodoin says.
In her drawings, Jodoin reconstructs images of masks and headgear "" medieval helmets, gas masks, and burlap head covers. The works are minimal and stark in style, with black backgrounds and harsh lighting. Working on mylar, she combines the objects with the features of human faces "" most of them children. The final result appears deformed, like something out of a horror movie. However, they're not at all menacing; the figures seem to emerge from the black background behind them like objects in a museum display.
The exhibition is an essential part of Gallery Connexion's mandate, which showcases artists that are normally absent from traditional, larger galleries. These include aboriginal, emerging, and avant-garde artists. An artist-run centre, Gallery Connexion seeks to educate the community concerning the activities on the fringe.
"Sophie is someone we approached to show because of the quality of work and professionalism that she embodies," said Meredith Snider, director of Gallery Connexion. "War Series is a brand new body of work, and the combinations of content and technical skill are impressive. The artist covers an extensive breadth of subject matter through the large number of studies created, paired with a pointed analysis. "While one gallery space is dedicated to the large display of drawings, the other is devoted to a video collaboration between Jodoin and David Jhave Johnston. In the video, two children play while sporting gas masks. At some points, they dance. At other times, they slap. The scene changes, and the children put on the robber's constant companion "" black ski masks. When the girl makes the sign of a gun with her fingers and aims it at the boy's head, the boy doesn't seem to mind. But, the viewer is meant to see the action as bearing considerable symbolic weight.
"For me," Jodoin states, "medium is not important as long as you can succeed in what you want to say. The slow-motion video parallels the drawings by portraying children playing at war, revealing an underlying inherent human violence in innocence." The thematically-similar video component reinforces the drawings. By obscuring the faces, the figures in the video are no longer individuals, but signs. In the drawings, repetition creates both anonymity and encompassing symbolism.
"I am treating harsh subjects in a lyrical manner," says Jodoin, "By imparting humanity with human features, the drawings portray individuals simultaneously as both perpetrators and victims." The exhibition is on display until October 17 in UNB's Memorial Hall, located at 9 Bailey Dr.
For more information on the artist, visit www.sophiejodoin.com For more information on Gallery Connexion visit www.galleryconnexion.ca
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