"Irak" Oil Painting on Board by Doug Edge

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Artists have used their creative expression to cope with the collective trauma of the Iraq War, often in ways that … Read more Artists have used their creative expression to cope with the collective trauma of the Iraq War, often in ways that are deeply personal and meaningful. They have created works that evoke feelings of anger, sorrow, hope, and dread which are difficult to express through words alone. Their works raise questions about the existential struggle faced when attempting to make sense of tragedy on a global scale.

Since the 1970s, Doug Edge has been a pioneer in his creative use of media—plastic, resin, wood, glass, and steel—while maintaining a conceptual yet socially conscious perspective throughout his work. Best known for his sculpture, he is also highly skilled in painting works.

Using an ever-growing vocabulary of archetypal symbols, recurring shapes, and figures combined with vibrant colour palettes; this particular painting showcases how Edge masterfully blends simple geometric forms - a square representing a bust and a round forming a head - and the word 'IRAQ' to challenge us brutally. Springing from the chest a hand striking like a fist expressing anger, calling for help, or pointing as one would like to point the finger at the person responsible for an unspeakable madness. The figure's lips are sealed shut with a large, sweeping brushstroke of white, the colour symbolising purity and peace that can sometimes only be found in silence or death. This gesture conveys the notion that regardless of how intense or traumatic what has been witnessed is, words cannot do it justice. The magnitude of its impact is too deep to be reported or even spoken of. We can note the use of orange which can express the bombings. The blue background provides a poignant contrast; exploding across the canvas like a beacon of hope.

Doug Edge lives in the vibrant city of Venice, California. He has shown his artwork across the world and it can be found in esteemed collections such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York City and Laguna Art Museum near Laguna Beach, CA. See less