Home From War
Here, I present a series of images that memorialize U.S. military members as statues, capturing the complex duality of how these individuals are both idolized during times of conflict and forgotten afterward.
We are celebrated, and given parades. Welcomed home as heroes.
This project seeks to evoke deep emotions and provoke thought about the often-overlooked struggles of service members both on the battlefield, during service, and upon their reintegration.
The statuesque representation of soldiers serves as a powerful symbol of how society venerates its heroes during war but tends to neglect their sacrifices once the conflict subsides.
These motionless figures stand as reminders of bravery and valor, yet their immobility also speaks to the stagnation and neglect many veterans experience. By rendering these soldiers as statues, I underscore the contrast between public adulation and the personal battles that persist long after returning.
The explosion of flowers within each image symbolizes both the ballistic trajectories that cause wounds, explosions from combat, and self-inflicted wounds that cause lifelong disfigurement, amputations, and permanent scars.
These vibrant floral bursts are reminiscent of the sudden, violent disruptions of war, juxtaposed with the beauty and fragility of life. The flowers also metaphorically represent the heavy burdens soldiers carry when they return home, dealing with mental health issues such as suicide, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. This dual symbolism creates a haunting yet beautiful portrayal of the cost of war on the human psyche.
The soldiers, frozen in time yet surrounded by explosive growth, reflect the tension between their static existence and the relentless march of progress. The interplay of stone soldiers and blooming flowers creates a dissonance that invites viewers to question societal norms and the treatment of veterans. This element of unpredictability and chaos mirrors the unpredictable nature of war and its aftermath.
The surreal elements within the images, such as the fantastical floral explosions and the stoic, otherworldly presence of the statues, evoke a sense of otherworldliness and introspection.
This collection is a powerful testament to the duality of heroism and neglect, beauty and pain, and the enduring impact of war on the human spirit.