However many times he gets it wrong, which is, it must be said, not that often, Charles Saatchi has undoubtedly offered an almighty platform of an exhibition space that exposes otherwise little-known works to millions each year.
With this in mind it is thanks to him that the mind-blowing piece ‘American Servicemen and Women Who Have Died in Iraq and Afghanistan (But not Including the Wounded, Nor the Iraqis nor the Afghanis)’ by the previously anonymous San Franciscan artist Emily Prince has a place to be see,n and deservedly so.
I cannot urge you enough to see for yourself this extraordinary homage to the human sacrifice that has been made by our fellow man. The scale itself, comprised of some 5213 pencil drawings to be precise, is enough to make anyone stop, stand and stare. Each drawing is an individual portrait with the serviceman/woman’s name, age and date of death written on above or below and have been arranged chronologically. On close inspection, the delicate draughtsmanship and attention to detail is clear. It is this sense of humanity that runs through the piece – a humanity that engages and speaks to our core. Proving that faddish special effect, big concepts and attention grabbing media are unnecessary in the name of art, Prince has taken on a brave and beautiful project that will only be complete on the last day of the war – when there are no more portraits to be drawn.
Image: Emily Prince ‘American Servicemen and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan (but not including the wounded nor the Iraqis nor the Afghans),’ 2004 – present, pencil on colour coded vellum. Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery.
Look out for my write-up of The Empire Strikes Back: Indian Art Today later this week and don’t forget Quintessentially Art’s tour of the exhibition this coming Saturday 29th. To find out more email art@quintessentially.com
