Vigee Blue

The Tolls of Violence

Tolls_Small
Tolls_Small

The Tolls of Violence | Media List


Statement

So many themes are touched upon in this piece that it is hard to know where to begin...
Primarily, it is a response to the increasing proliferation of violence in our society.
The violent murder of Demond Reed in Minneapolis struck me deeply last February. I spent many weeks thinking of ways to pay homage to Demond and all children who are victims of violence so that they will never be forgotten.
I imagined Angels angry as they come to bring him home, incensed at this senseless tragedy.
The glass containers represent our emotions are they are reduced and contained in vessels as our bodies eventually will be when returned to the earth:
Fire represents violence, anger and war
Dirt represents our bodies...ashes to ashes
Grey represents despair
Red (below the child's wrist) represents blood
Pink (below the child’s heart) represents Love
Blue (below the angel’s heart) represents sorrow
Black represents death and our dependency on oil
White signifies redemption and hope
I wonder what legacy we will leave behind.
Thank you to my lovely models Selina, Jodi and Tennesha.