This was one of my very early paintings, ca. 2014. It’s called ‘Scars of injustice’ (20″x20″) and is in a private collection in Vancouver.
I’ve been reminded of this painting recently because of discussions about the similarities and differences between Ukraine and Syria, both victims of Russian invasions.
Here is what I wrote in 2014 after I painted it:
This painting was done while I listened to the stories coming out of the besieged Old City of Homs, Syria in February 2014.
Knowing how deeply traumatic war has been for the children in northern Uganda, I was reminded of the seemingly endless journey of healing from violence.
It speaks to the blurred boundaries between everyday violence and the violence of war.
I was reminded how, even in a ‘post-conflict’ context, many of the survivors of war continue to experience violence. Some of the mothers and children in my study, for example, experience horrible domestic violence—in part, a legacy from the interaction between masculinity and the violence of war.
And yet, as I listen to such stories, I bear witness to the remarkable resilience and agency of humanity. ❤️