War through the Eyes of a Child 1994

Here, Fusun Onur presents us with the silent scream of childhood trauma, particularly in the context of war, using objects as powerful symbols. The child's dress, hanging forlornly, evokes innocence lost, a visual echo of Ophelia's garments in pre-Raphaelite paintings, symbolizing purity and fragility confronted with overwhelming forces. Around the table, shrouded figures lurk, perhaps representing the menacing specters of conflict. These figures remind me of Goya's depictions of war. In Goya’s work, the shadows take on a life of their own, embodying the terror and irrationality of violence, and they appear here as well. The photograph of the child on the wall is reminiscent of images of saints or madonnas. The child's clasped hands convey a desperate prayer, while the lace tablecloth—a symbol of domesticity—is rendered sterile and ghostly. Such juxtapositions evoke deep emotional responses, tapping into our collective memories of loss and resilience. These symbols evolve, re-emerge, and find new life, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history.