OCA preloader logo
Study Visit: Current Conflicts - The Open College of the Arts

To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.

Study Visit: Current Conflicts thumb

Study Visit: Current Conflicts

Rich_exampleCurrent Conflicts is an exhibition of new work by six photographers including OCA tutor Les Monaghan
Here’s Les, on the exhibition themes: The exhibition aims to engage the public with a series of artists’ responses to ideas around modern warfare, in particular the West’s engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a very topical subject, through our own research and the work done at seminars we have found that the exhibition provides a forum for debate. We have discovered a public feeling that there is little alternative to thinking about war except within the parameters set out by the media. Concepts such as embedding and citizen journalism do not seem to have resulted in any increased knowledge, empathy or discussion.
The artists are building towards two significant markers occurring in 2014; the pullout of NATO troops from Afghanistan and the centenary of the start of the First World War. One of the themes of Current Conflicts is the constant of war in human life. Others include masculinity and war, media representations (and misrepresentations), the aesthetics of war, and landscapes and war. The artists utilise their varied proximity to current conflicts to explore ideas shared by all of us when confronted by the modern notion of war.
The exhibition will be in the Pendle Art Gallery at the ACE Centre in Nelson, Lancashire throughout August and on Saturday 23 August there will be an artists/curator talk for the general public and OCA students. We know from previous talks that students get a great deal out of these opportunities. To reserve a free place email enquiries@oca-uk.com
Previously the Current Conflicts group ran a seminar at Watford Space2 Gallery, the essay to inform that seminar is available to download here. [Please be aware that the images used to illustrate the essay may upset some readers].
Image Credit: Richard Monje ‘untitled’
[Current Conflicts features work by Matthew Andrew, Christopher Down, Richard Monje, Olivia Robinson, Jamie Simonds and Les Monaghan]


Posted by author: Joanne

7 thoughts on “Study Visit: Current Conflicts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

> Next Post 'Walk & Talk'

< Previous Post Who owns it?

Back to blog listings