The unjust war started by the Bush and Blair administrations against Iraq in 2003 continues to haunt and affect everybody alive today. If directly involved or not does make any difference: We all are affected by the immense suffering and the consequences of the war and what it has brought home. It has been estimated that over 1.2 million people were killed during that war, and millions more were maimed, physically and mentally. As a result of the war the killing in Iraq goes unabated. While the Masters of War enjoy their lavish retirements tens of thousands of American vets returned physically or mentally disabled, never to fit fully into society again, their minds and bodies spoiled by what they saw, what they did, and what was done to them. There are no numbers on the psychologically and bodily afflicted Iraqis, but we know it must be multiples of the killed and maimed.
While artists used to glorify war for their patrons throughout history, this changed with printmakers such as Callot, Goya, and Dix a long time ago. Ever since then artists, and printmakers in particular, have spoken out against human depravity and documented the impact war has on us.
This work consists of three reduction woodcuts, each overprinted by a screen print. Next to the panels run woodcut panels of the 'Boots' lyrics.
"These boots were made for walking and that's just what they'll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you …"