This installation, “Profit in War,” presents a stark and unsettling tableau that explores the detached nature of modern conflict and the complex relationship between destruction and economic gain. The work centers around a seemingly simple setup: a worn globe resting on a plinth becomes the focal point of a staged act of destruction.
Surrounding the globe is a chaotic scene of broken eggshells and viscous yolk, visually representing the fragility of the world and the violent consequences of conflict. Some of the intact eggs, still housed in their yellow carton, are juxtaposed with this devastation, highlighting the contrast between potential and ruin. Significantly, several of these intact eggs bear the weight of coins, introducing the concept of economic profit or gain associated with the destructive act.
Suspended above the globe is a makeshift dropping mechanism, constructed from a red metal bracket holding a single egg poised to fall. This element implies a remote and potentially impersonal act of violence, suggesting the distanced nature of modern warfare where decisions are often made and actions carried out far removed from their immediate consequences. The red wire connecting the mechanism further emphasizes this sense of a technological or remote trigger.
The installation’s aesthetic is one of deliberate rawness and immediacy. The aged and stained walls of the exhibition space contribute to a sense of decay and neglect, while the makeshift nature of the dropping mechanism underscores the potential for violence to be enacted through readily available means.
“Profit in War” removes the viewer from direct agency within the installation space. The destructive act is triggered remotely via a website, accessible to an unseen audience. This deliberate removal of immediate responsibility forces those present in the gallery to confront their own passivity and the potential for a detached complicity in acts of violence. The work poignantly questions how easily destruction can be initiated with the simple click of a button, and how the pursuit of economic gain can be inextricably linked to acts of devastation.
Materials: Globe, eggs, egg carton, coins, red metal bracket, wire, plinth, website with live camera feed and red button.
Exhibited at: Kingston University 2nd Year Interim Show.
