Dimensions: duration: 53min Overall display dimensions variable
Copyright: © Lamia Joreige | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This is Lamia Joreige's "Objects of War No. 3," from the Tate Collections. It's a video, so it exists in time, duration being its most important material. How do you interpret the stillness of the subject against the backdrop of war, given its visual composition? Curator: The composition presents a fascinating tension. Note the contrast between the seated woman and the upright candle. This juxtaposition creates a semiotic interplay, perhaps suggesting resilience amidst fragility. The work's minimalist aesthetic draws focus to these symbolic elements. Editor: So, the sparseness emphasizes the candle's symbolic weight? Curator: Precisely. The candle functions as a signifier, laden with potential meanings. How might its color or flame alter your interpretation? Editor: I see it now – the structure highlights inherent symbolism. Curator: Indeed. Examining the formal elements enhances our understanding.
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/joreige-objects-of-war-no3-t13249
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The video is mainly in Arabic and French with English subtitles. The artist uses headphones in order to create a direct engagement and intimacy between the work and the viewer. Gallery label, June 2011