Mount Bak. An assemblage of memories of the past and scenes from the present. We all carry within ourselves memories of past residences and the stories attached to those places. And at the same time see these images of destroyed houses on the evening news as the Ukraine war drags on and with it the continued death and destruction.
Is this to be the course of human affairs: eternal killing and wanton destruction of others. All in the name of lies and delusional proclamations of tyrants. One after another they are paraded across the evening news. A litany of lies that provokes more hatred and evil deeds.
Within the mountain of memories are the faces and torsos of those who came before and are now buried in the pile of stones. The random observer reclines, supported by his luggage and traveler's pack.
Is he sitting as simply a passerby or is he a survivor who will one day bear witness as Bak does with each work as a visual testimony and active commentary about our modern world.
Present Past. As usual, an enigmatic title.
The Past is always Present, especially in regards to memory, war and atrocity.
The color of this work creates an otherworldly sense of the memories of the devastation and the lost people, chimneys and smoke of death.
An assemblage of vacant house whose empty windows are the eyes to the soul of all killed.
The cloud of memory enhanced by the smoke of crematorium.
And then there is the observer off to the side watching and remembering.
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