War Child (2005)

With a track record of cutting edge performance and installations that have addressed issues of cultural identity, mass consumerism and global violence, Hormuz Minina's video installation takes an unwavering look at American culture through a combination of video, sound and sculptural elements that explore the loss of innocence, parental commitment, consumerism and the most tragic casualties of war.

Minina continues to insert the personal elements of his life into the core focus of his installations. The childlike simplicity of the work's engagement creates a visceral tension with images of war. Images of children from war torn areas of the world create an explicit contrast with the gentle images of the cared for toddlers in the Baby Galileo video, evoking at once feelings of security, concern, indictment and horror. Many of these images are flashed too quickly on prime time news programs to allow the viewer to absorb them. Although the artist has not spared the viewer any disturbing imagery, he adopts this rapid exposure technique to the opposite end; to acknowledge, inform and awaken in the context of American consumerism's commodification of childhood.

The Fisher Price monkey on the child's toy, ludicrous in contrast to the work's serious subject matter, dances as the images of war are triggered. Acting as a capitalistic fetish, the monkey signifies consumerism's sinister ability to distract us from the casualties of war.

Joey Orr, Curator