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Geert Van Kesteren: Why Mister Why? and Baghdad Calling

13.10.08 | Julian Stallabrass

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Comment on this exhibition, on show at Lighthouse in Brighton, below:

Artists:
Geert Van Kesteren 
Tags:
Exhibitions  War 
19 Comment(s):
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I think It's a great exhibition. I like the idea of being in a dark place, just listening and watching the pictures taken for the people who is suffering the conflict. It made me think about my petty problems and how sometimes we forget about people whos really suffering REAL PROBLEMS and have to deal with them in this precise moment. It's sad to think about them and with all what they have to deal everyday, but in other way it gave me hope to realise that my problems are really petty and I am able of get over them if I really want....
anyway great exhibition.

Paper tiger. 16th Oct 2008. 18:01

Totally agree, with the above.
Great exhibition, such moments of normal family life and then shocking reminders of the devastation of war.

Hectar. 22nd Oct 2008. 15:15

Geert van Kesteren is also showing work at the Barbican exhibition, 'On the Subject of War'. The photographs from his book 'Why, Mister, Why?' are displayed similarly to the show at Lighthouse, but the phone photographs exchanged by Iraqi refugees are shown quite differently, as a huge grid of prints. This allows more detailed consideration of them than in the imposed time of the slide show at Lighthouse, though one might argue that the lack of the soundtrack of Iraqi voices leaves them to float too free of their political context. Either way, those interested in the themes of the Biennial will want to see the Barbican show, which also contains work by An My Le, Omer Fast and Paul Chan.

Julian Stallabrass. 25th Oct 2008. 23:14

It all becomes a commodity in the a gallery.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:31

Why do we always have to be confronted with images of Middle Eastern strife?

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:31

Strife? I think it’s a little more than strife! Perhaps that’s why we need exhibitions like this, so small minded ignorant people can see what’s happening globally!

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:32

One of the most insightful thought provoking exhibitions on Iraq that I’ve ever experienced. Truly a brave people.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:32

Impressive images in such difficult circumstances. An eye opener—mobile phones the new form of historical documentation.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:33

I feel physically sick to the core of me. It’s very hard to write. It’s the small details of things like the duct tape being put around the head of the prisoner with a label attached detailing name, location, weapon etc. I want it not to be.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:33

High impact sorrow & I find it confusing that it’s allowed to continue. Blow these pictures up to billboard size in front of Number 10.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:34

Very informative images from someone with dedication to their work. Well done.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:35

From Iraq. Thank you for the exhibition!!! I am happy there are people who care about my country.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:35

When will someone connect the current financial mess with this (these) pointless and barbaric adventures (or daren’t they do so!). Inspiring and awful.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:37

Speechless!!!

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:38

Great exhibition—the juxtaposition of the two sections very stimulating. Very good to see the real people in 'Baghdad Calling' in addition to images of violence.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:38

We tried to stop the war—but the government didn’t listen to the people…

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:40

I find work like this hard to comprehend or even work out my clear feelings as there is so much beauty in the artist’s creation—the colour, the perspective, his talent as a photographer. But the narrative is so alien to me I can begin to imagine what these poor people are going through. They leave me without impact.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:40

Extraordinary access, brings it home, very different experience from watching information on the TV where as a viewer you keep your distance. It forces more of an emotional engagement & a realisation of the events past and present.

From the comments book. 3rd Nov 2008. 23:40

Brilliant, normality and war, trying to live a normal life, I didn't know this photographer before this exhibition. There were a few comments about the family wearing Christmas hats and people assumed that they were Muslim, but don't forget there is small community of Christians in Iraq and I imagine the people dipicted in the photographs are Christian, there are also Jewish communities in Iraq, people always assume it's just Muslim

Russell Vin. 29th Jan 2009. 09:47
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