A collaboration between Mark Mallia and Etienne Farrell
Setting off from the war between Russia and Ukraine and its impacts on Europe and beyond, while tapping into Jean Paul Sartre’s collection of essays `The Aftermath of War`, this work focuses on the repercussions created by the onset of war for common citizens. Europe became once again stained by war, resulting in European citizens facing dire circumstances, fear, and deprivation. This work highlights the fact that as Europeans, but most importantly as human beings, war brings us face to face with our fragility.
As explained in the Cambridge Dictionary, the word aftermath stands for the period that follows an unpleasant event or accident, and the effects that it causes. Just like Jean Paul Sartre explained his experiences of the aftermath of war from his perspective, Mallia and Farrell used work in mixed media to communicate their own personal experiences and those of others they interviewed, some of whom had direct experiences and impacts, regarding the outcomes and consequences of the war.
The work is indicative of the many shades and layers resulting from war, including death, destruction, famine, ruins, displacement, deprivation, health issues, ill effects on the environment, education and production, the collapse of the economy and violence. Humanity is at the centre of each piece.
Underlying all the works, is the human hand that is symbolic of human sentiment.
While fingerprints make each hand unique to each individual, hands are not commonly considered as recognisable as faces. It takes more effort to recognise a person through their hands. The artists exploit this duality; on one side of the scale sits the exclusivity of each hand which denotes the uniqueness and value of each human being, while on the other, each hand is cut off from its owner and shrouded in white in an attempt for anonymity of the single person, in favour of the louder, more collective voice. Using casts and photographs from different, unidentified people, the hands in these works represent human beings in general, no matter their race, gender, ethnicity or status. Departing from the fact that each hand is distinctive because of peculiarities of gesture and consequences of use, throughout these works the artists exploit the hand’s many uses; to express love, hate, judgment, doubt, questioning, hospitality, rejection, as well as acceptance. Hands are used for blessings and salutations; they are placed on the sick and to exorcise. Hands seal deals, express condemnation, and serve as units of measurement. Hands are used as tools, as symbols, and as weapons. They serve as eyes for the blind and a voice for the mute. Hands have moods, character, and a particular beauty. Each hand in this body of work is representative of the suffering and experiences.
The white casts of hands are used as the very basis of humanity; a means of clean, objective, direct communication with the viewer, indicative of the fact that every person in Europe is somehow being affected by the war. White is often associated with a sense of purity and cleanliness. It is however also described as cold and sterile. White is used in this work to communicate the objectivity of the artists’ perspective. Also considered as the colour of peace, white stands for the absence of any other colour, further conveying the message that it is untainted. It is considered as a blank slate, symbolising a new beginning and a fresh start; a hope for a better future.
Each of the works in this collection is a collaboration between Mallia and Farrell.
