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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty: When walls speak and we listen > Evidence of War, Karlovac, Croatia, 2005
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06-SEP-2005

Evidence of War, Karlovac, Croatia, 2005

Croatia has been at peace since the mid-90s. But if you look closely, you can often find the scars of Croatia's war with Serbia and Serb-led Yugoslavia. This building is in a rural area near Karlovac, which saw heavy fighting. The punctured and pitted walls come as a shock. The tree, an expression of life, contrasts strongly to the ruined building, which is utterly lifeless. The shadow of an upper stairway extends down into the scene, embracing the shell holes and calling attention to them. The shadow is an apparition – it makes the dead building, which is made of solid concrete, seem ephemeral. These are walls that have suffered, and by extension, they represent people and nations who have suffered as well.

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Phil Douglis19-Apr-2008 03:27
It's a small world. We are all connected, aren't we? Thanks for letting me know, Alfisti.
Guest 20-Mar-2008 14:43
My wife's grand mother lives three houses up from that house, I was there in September 2005 as well. Every house in the town looks like this.
Phil Douglis08-Oct-2005 00:11
I was hoping that Tim and Celia would comment on this image -- I have a very special regard for both of your thoughts. The bleeding walls you see are metaphorical, and were very much in my mind as I made this image. I don't know if this building will ever be repaired. It has been standing there in this condition for almost fifteen years. And the wounds of this tragic war are still very much felt throughout the former Yugoslavia.
Cecilia Lim05-Oct-2005 22:06
Yes, what a hauntingly moving image! The walls are still bleeding even though the war's been over for years. These walls not only speak of the past but also of the present - neglected and in dire need for repair, they seem to tell us that the nation has far from recovered from the war.
Tim May05-Oct-2005 17:17
What a powerful and haunting image. Besides the interplay between the cement and the holes - I am also drawn to the color. The white walls are ripped open to show the flesh color below, the red industrial railing seems bloodlike and the green plants give hope for the future. The hole in the shadow on the left seems "eye-like" giving a demon effect to the shadow. The Shadow of War.
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