A war brings untold misery to the people involved in the conflict. Not to mention the scores of innocent lives lost on both sides of a conflict, howevermuch the authorities try and deny that no civilian casualties occurred. Although there have been scores of wars and battles and skirmishes that have occurred over the course of human history, there has never been a satisfactory justification for war. Oh, there have been numerous reasons why a war was started, but these justifications seem paltry in the face of the many lives lost, without even a trace that they even existed. What a waste of human beings, not to mention the resources – both natural and man-made that are laid waste in the name of war, across the world.
One such conflict was witnessed by the world in Ukraine, last year, when Russian forces invaded Ukraine and laid siege, which again saw many lives lost. With technology so advanced since the days of World Wars I and II, it’s a wonder that people are still alive there.
Image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
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And one artist took it upon herself to produce an art piece that symbolized this conflict in a way that was both poignant and chilling. Meet Dariya Marchenko, a Ukrainian artist. She has worked hard and produced a piece of art that is a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is aptly named, ‘The Face of War.’ And I kid you not, this piece of art is made out of 5,000 cartridges brought from the frontline in eastern Ukraine, the epicenter of the conflict.
Image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
The portrait is a poignant reminder of all the lives lost or wounded or maimed or injured with the bullets fired from the very cartridges used to create Putin’s face. The portrait, along with a novel containing personal stories of six people involved with this art project, who helped Dariya collect shell from the frontline, will be presented to the world. Dariya Marchenko calls her unusual approach to this portrait a philosophic symbolism where every element has its hidden meaning. According to her, the cartridges represent all the human lives that were brutally cut short by the bullets fired.
Take a look at some of the pictures where you can see Dariya at work, sifting through the cartridges:
Image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
What do you think of this portrait made from cartridges by Dariya Marchenko? Tell us in the comments below.
Featured image source: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
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