Love In The Time Of Hope

Love in the time of hope My artistic interest currently lies on creating a discussion about the diverse forms of non-traceable torture to break an individual’s spirit. Those methods are being practiced in many parts of the world, including the US in the aftermath of 9/11. This series of portraits deals with the particular technique of waterboarding. As a specific form of water torture, this method causes an individual to experience the sensation of drowning. My work focuses on the isolation and total loss of orientation the victim faces during the act of torture. In addition it reveals the shocking simplicity of that technique. A piece of cloth covering the victim’s mouth while water is poured over him is all it takes. In my research I found that some of the victims described the image of their loved ones as being their only thought during the act of torture and the sensation of dying. With this work I wish to raise awareness and to encourage a dialogue about the brutal creativity that man has developed to torture another and how love is sometimes the only hope for reclaiming our humanity.