Walid Raad

Oh God, he said, talking to a tree_Jiyeh: July 16, 2006

2004/2008

One from a series of 31 digital prints

Not on view

At first glance, Raad's grid of prints appears to be an organized series of abstract shapes. In fact, the forms are isolated clouds of dust and debris cut from a larger picture. The smoke is the visual aftereffect of violence, bloodlessly capturing the bomb explosions that were so prevalent in Raad's homeland of Lebanon in 2006. The full source images—presumably more graphic—taken by amateurs and media outlets, are eliminated; Raad leaves only the clouds of smoke as a poetic yet powerful documentation of political violence.

Gallery label from

Here Is Every. Four Decades of Contemporary Art, September 10, 2008–March 23, 2009 .

Medium One from a series of 31 digital prints
Dimensions composition (irreg.): 1 3/16 x 1" (3 x 2.6 cm); sheet: 16 15/16 x 22" (43.1 x 55.9 cm)
Publisher AG_Publishers, New York and Beirut
Printer AG_Publishers, New York and Beirut
Edition 7
Credit General Print Fund
Object number 600.2008.20
Department Drawings and Prints

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