NOW & THEN
Antique meets Contemporary

'War Kills’ medal by Susanne Matsche in silver

ANTI-WAR MEDALS: ARTISTS RESPOND TO THE WAR

The War in Iraq has ended (or has it?) and are we any safer? The costly occupation of Iraq has yet to bring democracy to its people or security to the U.S. The War has fuelled hatred of the US around the world and weakened alliances built up over decades. Artists have a long history of reflecting on the events surrounding them. We feel that this is one of those times.

135 artists from 16 countries have created medals that reflect the terrible waste of this war. Medals commemorate heroes and battles but also Grief, Destruction, Terror, Greed, Hypocrisy, Arrogance and Loss. This war is remembered by artists from around the world with small but powerful objects that remind us the risks of unchecked power.

The Anti–War Medals’ exhibition was curated by Velvet da Vinci Gallery in San Fransisco and was first shown there in November 2003 as a response to the war in Iraq.