Catherine's Blog on War

Today I visited the Sidney Mishkin Gallery to view the Portraits: A Global View. Photograph and Prints exhibition. I was expecting to see a variety of individuals in society. Although it was a small gallery, it was informal and filled with powerful photographs.

In this exhibit, there were a few photographs that displayed individuals who were hurt from the war. In the left photo above, it is of a few children who suffer from illnesses and lack medical attention. Although it may not be stated, the children could be in this situation because of a war stricken nation. In the middle photograph, it is of a group of refugees. The refugees in the photograph have an intense stare that show desperation in their eyes. To me, the photograph on the right hit me the most. It was of a woman’s chest tattooed with the letters “RUF.” On the description, it stated that she was forced to join the rebel army, which was later convicted of crimes against humanity. Not only was she forced to join the rebels, but forced to do things that hurt others. Overall, this wall in the exhibition displays the horrifying impacts war has.

It started as a casual visit to the exhibition, but I was glad to learn about many portraits. A simple photograph can have many interpretations and takes on it. A description can give us a slight understanding, but I don’t think we can have full understanding without someone’s story and background.