Installation Art

At times there is a work of art that affects a person. This effect can be emotional or spiritual. Sometimes works of art can spark a person to take action. Pink Tank by Marianne Jorgensen is a work of art that generated lots of attention. A WW II tank was covered in pink squares made of yarn. The cannon, the treads were all covered in pink. Jorgensen used the craft of knitting these pink squares to protest the war in Iraq. The soft, flexible yarn contrasts the metallic cold steel of the tank's unbending body. Witnessing this work made me think about my views on war and conflict. I began asking myself if I am one who idolizes war. Do I marginalize conflict? What do I think about conflict? We live in a country where war video games are released every year. like screaming fans cheering their favorite team at college and pro football games fans brag about badges and kill streaks in these games. The Call of Duty series, The Battlefield series, Rainbow Six, Killzone, Wolfenstein, Ace Combat, the Medal of Honor Series, Company of Heroes, Gears of War, Halo, and Homefront are all games where the player participates in a war from either the future or past. These games are designed with such realism that warnings are placed on the labels. I have played several games from the ones I've mentioned and enjoy them but I wonder if I am being programmed to become insensitive to war or war atrocities. If we as video game players are being programmed to marginalize conflict, should we take up yarn and protest in the manner similar to Marianne Jorgensen? Should shelves be lined with pink covered video game boxes? Pink Tank had a place in the public eye in 2006. It caused people to reflect and consider other options to armed conflict. Have we lost touch with shared experiences, compassion for others, and empathy? With the current conflicts in Syria, Somalia, and other places in the world, maybe it's time to put down the controller and pick up the needle and thread.

Ane Munin."A Head full of Wings". From Soil to Flight. <http://fromsoiltoflight.tumblr.com/post/406957634/pink-tank-by-marianne-j%C3%B8rgensen-aarhus-denmark> (

June 26, 2017).