Fort - Mixed Media (2008)

Fort - Mixed Media (2008)

video

Innocence is a state of being that can easily be taken for granted. It is a delicate and precious quality, often associated with childhood. A time when the world is perceived as a place of safety, wonder, and discovery. In much of the Western world, children are largely sheltered from the horrors of war and conflict. They grow up in environments where their primary concerns are school, play, and friendships. Their innocence is protected and nurtured, allowing them to explore their world with a sense of security and trust.

However, this protected state is not a universal experience. In other parts of the world, the harsh realities of war and violence encroach upon the lives of children, stripping them of their innocence far too soon. In many conflict zones, children are recruited or conscripted by force into armed groups. These young recruits, often no older than the children who play freely in Western parks, are thrust into the brutality of warfare.

The methods used to turn children into soldiers are as horrifying as they are systematic. Children are commonly given drugs to alter their state of mind, making them more amenable to fighting and easier to control. These substances numb their senses and dull their ability to resist, transforming innocent children into tools of war. The trauma inflicted upon these child soldiers is profound and enduring, leaving scars that last a lifetime.

Fort is an art installation that seeks to juxtapose the sheltered innocence of Western childhood with the disturbing stories of former child soldiers. The installation features a child blanket fort, a familiar and comforting structure that many in the West associate with childhood play and imagination. This fort, however, holds a chilling and sobering contrast within its walls.

Inside the child blanket fort, the voices of former child soldiers recount their traumatic experiences. These testimonies, shared in their own words, provide a harrowing glimpse into the lives of children who have been forced into violence. The intimate and personal nature of these stories serves as a powerful reminder of the vulnerability and exploitation faced by child soldiers.

The juxtaposition created by Fort is striking and unsettling. The soft, familiar environment of a blanket fort, typically a symbol of childhood innocence, becomes a space where the horrors of war are revealed. This contrast serves to highlight the stark differences in childhood experiences across the globe and challenges viewers to reflect on the fragility of innocence.

Fort is a chilling reminder to not take innocence for granted. It calls attention to the often-overlooked plight of child soldiers and urges viewers to recognize the privileges of a sheltered childhood. By bringing these stories into a context that is both familiar and incongruous, the installation seeks to evoke empathy and awareness, prompting a deeper understanding of the impact of war on the youngest and most vulnerable.

In creating Fort, the goal is to bridge the gap between disparate childhood experiences and to remind us all of our shared responsibility to protect and preserve the innocence of children everywhere. Through this powerful juxtaposition, Fort not only exposes the harsh realities faced by child soldiers but also underscores the value of safeguarding the innocence that so many children in the Western world enjoy.