The war in Iraq hits close to home for many people in this country. But the experience of living in the United States during the war has undoubtedly been very different from that of fighting in Iraq. Polish artist Krzysztof Wodiczko intends to bridge this gap through his piece "…Out of Here: The Veterans Project," now on view at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston (ICA).
Wodiczko is a world-renowned artist best known for his multimedia works involving projections of large-scale images onto famous monuments across the globe. After the success of these projects, he began to design interior projections for specific institutions — the ICA being one of them. These works focus on politically relevant themes such as war and democracy. Wodiczko's interest lies in conveying the broad range of personal stories of those affected by a first-hand experience of conflict zones, whether they be soldiers or citizens.
For his piece in the ICA, Wodiczko worked with the museum to create a relatively small room that appears similar to other gallery spaces in the museum. But instead of the traditionally bright lights used to illuminate art, darkness envelops this enclosure, giving it an eerie and almost claustrophobic feeling, especially in conjunction with the rows of realistic-looking windows that are projected onto the upper edges of three of the four walls. The room seems to represent a warehouse-like space in which viewers take on the role of people trapped or hiding inside, much like refugees or prisoners of war.
Instead of a simple selection of art objects, "…Out of Here" is an interactive space that is inseparable from the viewers' participation in it. This is highlighted by the sound recording that seems to be emanating from immediately outside the "building," featuring the voices of people currently living in Iraq. The experience is enhanced by the fact that viewers have a fractured view of life outside the room as they pass by the windows. They catch glimpses of roaring helicopters and bouncing soccer balls accompanied by children's enthusiastic voices, which are quickly contrasted by the sounds of army vehicles and American soldiers' voices and gunshots.
The once rather peaceful, although dismal, setting is transformed in an instant into a dangerous war zone, as bullets shatter windows and innocent people scream for help. All the while, viewers are trapped inside the dark interior of the exhibit, forced to listen blindly to the terrifying noises and unable to do anything to help stop the violence that feels so close but is practically invisible.
Instead of inspiring an individual experience, this piece creates a sense of community and makes it impossible to ignore those who sit and stand around you. At points this work feels so authentic that it is becomes difficult to separate art from reality; it conveys a raw feeling of fear and hopelessness.
The incredibly powerful though fictional environment that Wodiczko has envisioned for this exhibition attempts to tell the story of those affected by the traumatic realities of the Iraq War. His aim is to give voice to those silenced or unable to convey their experiences in order to shed light on those experiences for Americans here in the United States.
By exposing the violence and trauma of war, Wodiczko seeks to educate people and help bring an end to these atrocities. Although his goals may seem overly optimistic, his honest and creative portrayal of war succeeds in creating politically active art that is both visually spectacular and mentally stimulating.
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Krzysztof Wodiczko, ...OUT OF HERE: The Veterans Project
At the East Gallery, through Mar. 28
The Institute of Contemporary Art
100 Northern Avenue
617-478-3100
