Bearing witness to the unwatchable : expressing compassion from afar through a visual art practice : an exegesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

Photographic images depicting the death, destruction, and chaos caused by armed conflicts are alarming and are being transmitted across the globe at an astonishing rate. The tragic consequence of these conflicts is a humanitarian crisis of mass displacement, as we witness domicide on an unprecedented scale. My photocollage-paintings are made in response to news reports and media photographs of certain of these conflicts and the immense suffering they inflict on civilian populations. I consider the mediating effect of the screen on the ways we see events from a distance. How can I address these horrors for a longer period than the short moment they appear on my screen? I actively question the entangled ethics and aesthetics of using art as a tool to express my response and ask what my practice can offer.