Collateral Damage-Jennifer Greer

Collateral Damage is a sculpture that is 36 x 36 x 48 in and uses plaster, paint, found objects, and audio to show the hidden damages of war. Specifically, the collateral damage that impacted many during the Syrian civil war. At first glance it is evident the amount of damage to the building, however a closer look shows the damage to the streets and civilians that are not as apparent. In the piece, there is a call to prayer from one of the damaged floors as a signal that there is still hope of life even in the toughest of times. Mohamad Hafez purposely makes the building stand out more rather than putting the collateral damage in the spotlight to showcase that the collateral damage is not always seen unless taken at a closer look. At closer inspection, there is debris, rubble, a wrecked ambulance, and many other everyday objects that the war has upheaved.

The damage is typically about the environment and architecture; however, once you take a closer look, you begin to see the minor details about how civilian life has been upheaved. Specifically, the ambulance being hidden under the rubble seems like it was trying to leave the scene with patients. The damage done to civilians during war is sometimes the most impacted due to how severe and long-lasting the effects are. There are injuries, psychological effects, and even drastic numbers of casualties that are more than on the battlefield. This piece asks how much consideration collateral damage should have in the conversation about war.