Face of Battle 

Editor: Here we have "Face of Battle" by Achraf Baznani, a photograph. The juxtaposition of the tiny figure with the massive bullets evokes a strong feeling of vulnerability. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: For me, the power of this photograph resides in its commentary on the means of production of warfare. The stark reality is softened, almost miniaturized. We see a single soldier, barefoot and dwarfed by the tools of war – the bullets themselves. What materials define the battle, and what are left out of frame? Editor: I hadn't considered the bullets as materials themselves, but it's so obvious now. Is the wood significant? Curator: Absolutely. It functions as both the stage and the battlefield. Consider the availability and labor of milling lumber for rifle stocks or housing munitions, not only shelter. The smooth, almost polished surface creates an artificial, domestic feel that contrasts sharply with the violence implied by the bullets. Think of the processing required, against the processing that has befallen the man in uniform. Editor: That tension is interesting! So you see the photograph as less about the individual soldier's experience, and more about...the system of war itself? Curator: Precisely. The human cost, undeniably present in the soldier’s weary pose, is framed by and dependent on this very tangible war industry. The means of death displayed outweigh and surround the man; his exhaustion alludes to both a psychological and a physical experience. What’s been made allows another thing to be unmade. Editor: It makes me think about how desensitized we can become to the sheer volume of materials required for war. Thanks for sharing that perspective! Curator: My pleasure. Paying attention to the concrete, the made, reminds us to ask bigger questions.