Eric Lesdema

Eric Lesdema

November 5, 1998 - November 28, 1998

Fortunes of War

The last battles will be fought in the aisles, checkouts and parking bays of motorway service stations, retail parks and supermarkets. The need for greed ensures that the lines of confrontation are being marked out in our generation's lifetime, confirming that the barricades are mounted in the frozen food aisle. Do it yourself centers are all stocked for this occasion. Buy your cordless drill now.

This work looks to the causes of war rather than its effects. It deals with the mechanics and visual language used to reinforce our beliefs when economic decisions have to be made. It is about our lives first rather than theirs. And, only if there is profit to be made, then we are ready to take the glory.

This economic simulation at play in our every day provides justification, immunization, even some kind of sense of betterment, so accommodating our lifestyles and supporting our moral standards.

This work does not purport to be the truth. Rather it seeks to present artifacts to the viewer and thus reveal the uncomfortable layers of privilege and the effortless burden to consume both human and natural resource that lie unchallenged and undisputed underneath the mask of self-rightousness.