Artefacts.
‘Right after the large Russia invaded the smaller Ukraine at the beginning of 2022, I subscribed to several Telegram channels that provided updates on the war and published photographs of the casualties. Many of these photographs depicted parts of the invaders’ bodies, resembling chunks of meat scattered on the ground. Lacking empathy and any form of censorship, the images were truly shocking.
The photographs had a profound impact on me, prompting me to create a series of paintings on paper that I called Artefacts. To develop the pictures for the series, I used the figure of cubes I had been working on for years. In a computer programme, I generated artefacts—computer errors—that looked like holes in the shoulders, knees, or heads. I then transferred these drawings onto paper and coloured them with acrylics. To emphasise the theme of war, I employed a military colour scheme with hues like khaki, grey, black, and metallic. In some paintings, I filled the holes with red, a colour often associated with blood.
The Artefacts series represents my perception of war from the perspective of an ordinary observer. Before the 21st century, people had limited access to visuals of war, while today, we have all turned to the dark side of humanity, as digital technologies have enabled us to access documented images almost instantly. The Artefacts series is a way to both address human brutality and reflect on the digitalisation of our lives.‘—Ilya Yod.
