Iraq: a process of resistance 2008

Iraq: a process of resistance documents the visual protest made by artists kennardphillipps against the invasion of Iraq and the transpiring obliteration of civilian life in Iraq 2002 – 2008. The work aims to be accessible by the general public and to involve them in questions relating to activism and art. Designed for the Brighton Photo Biennial 2008, Iraq: a process of resistance was shown at Ink-d gallery.

kennardphillipps began their collaborative work as a means to express their revulsion at the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. They aim to use their skills to express their solidarity with the Iraqi people and to produce work that can be used as a resource by anyone protesting against the war including magazines and newspapers.

From throwing dust, blood and oil onto a flatbed scanner for their first series of prints (Award) they moved on to working on paintings combining oil paint with digital printing and then onto large scale works printed on newspapers which are ripped and pummelled in an attempt to physically portray the war-torn country and a people devasted by relentless attack.

This exhibition is designed to show how photographic images from the media can be recontextualised through the processes of art to rip through the lies of mass destruction peddled by the USA and UK government led by George Bush and Tony Blair. By looking at individual press photographs and recombining them in a new context their work offers an audience an alternative view of the construction of war.