The international group exhibition Documents from the Edges of Conflict presents the work of artists who engage with society's increasing desire to capture and disseminate images of conflict and tension in world events. Their subjects include the impact of political decisions and divisions; newspaper and media reports of traumatic events; contested boundaries and borders such as those between Mexico and the United States or Palestine and Israel, and the influence of aggressive world leaders on our histories and experiences.
The lens-based work of the artists engages us with the various meanings of the word 'document' and creates new visual routes through a documentary field marked by the disappearance of its traditional models of representation. The belief that it is possible to present conflict in an objective manner has given way to new photographic and lens-based counter-stories, or at least different versions of representation. In the face of global uncertainty, intolerance and polarization this exhibition presents artists seeking other ways of approaching conflict and dispute, through film and photography, to provide alternative and contemplative visual reactions and provocations. From presentations on screens, a lightbox, or photographic prints there is a provocative visual response to the consequences of our social and political histories.
The exhibition was curated by Professor Jean Wainwright and Reader Steffi Klenz, and features the following artists: George Barber, David Birkin, Mona Hatoum, Alfredo Jaar, kennardphillipps, Ori Gersht, MacDonaldStrand, Steffi Klenz, Paolo Pellegrin, Sarah Pickering, Wolfgang Tillmans, Santiago Sierra, Catherine Yass.
