"I truly regret those men/all men who have died in the futility of the war

because in their deaths I must comprehend our future."*

(Kienholz)

 

The American artist Edward Kienholz (1927-1994) created The Portable War Memorial in 1968 as a universal anti-war memorial. Like a book, this piece of art is meant to be read from left to right. On the left, we see a group of soldiers with helmets (but without heads) who heroically conquer a dining table. A blackboard tombstone in the background contains the chalk-written names of 475 independent countries that no longer exist. On the right, there is a diner with more tables where hotdogs and chili may be served, and a Coke dispenser in the background. 

Mrs Bieniek's Year 11 art course analysed Kienholz's critique of militarism, propagandism and consumerism. In the following haiku poems the students give their impressions in no more than 10 words. 

 

 

Forgotten

Dark, grey

People lost forever

Alone in the city

War

 

(Nico)

 

 

American

grey, silent

portable war memorial

everywhere in the world

pride

 

(Piet) 

 

 

Contrasting

So unrelatable?

Stars and stripes

Between hotdogs and vending machines

Multidimensional

 

(Paul)

 

 

Broken

Interrupting daily routine

Soldiers and civilians

In an ordinary setting

Lost

 

(Tobias)

 

 

Contrasting

Strange, normal

War and daily routine

Battle in contrast to daily life

Connecting

 

(Jan)

 

 

Connected

Not interested

People eating fast food

Connecting war and daily life

Confused

 

(Max)

 

 

Patriotic

Daily defence

Without any emotions

Whoever attacks the USA

Destroy

 

(Felix)

 

 

Colourless

Proud, happy

Portable war memorial

Wherever you want it

Memory

 

(Contanza)

 

* Kristine Stiles,Peter Howard Selz, Theories and Documents of Contemporary Art: A Sourcebook of Artists' Writings, p. 514 

Illustration: Open Clipart , 2010