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Bran Symondson | The Art to Disarm
LondonHOFA Gallery proudly presents The Art to Disarm, a solo exhibition by British artist and documentary photographer Bran Symondson.
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This will be his first solo show in the UK since 2011 and the only time he has brought together works across his diverse oeuvre. It offers a unique chance to consider his practice in its entirety. The exhibition takes a timely look back on his personal experiences of Afghanistan both as a member of the British Army Special Forces in 2008 and as a photographer embedded with the Afghan National Police in 2010. It includes personal memorabilia from Symondson’s time in the army and photographs he shot during the period, alongside pieces demonstrating the evolution of his practice as a sculptor. The recent fall of Afghanistan inspired him to revisit his archive, create new works and present this reflexive and poignant exhibition.
Using ethically sourced butterflies and emotive site-specific objects that hark back to his experiences of place and conflict, Symondson creates stunning pieces with decommissioned AK-47s as the canvas. Initially known for his reportage photography that appeared in The Sunday Times and GQ, his creative output has developed far beyond this with the AK-47 sculptures being collected globally by the likes of highly acclaimed artist Jake Chapman, Elton John and the Prince of Bahrain. Symondson’s unique artworks derive from a simple premise: taking something of fear and loathing and turning it into something of beauty and intrigue.
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THE BEST VIEW OF HEAVEN IS FROM HELL
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As a serving soldier in the Special Forces Reserves in the British Army, Bran Symondson became fascinated by the Afghan National Police (ANP), their ethos and their daily existence in the war with the Taliban.
When he was given the opportunity to return and document these characters as a civilian photographer for the Sunday Times Magazine, he was able to capture a unique perspective on the current conflict.
The men of the ANP preserve as well as corrupt; they must be relied upon, but can’t be trusted; they are proud of their appearance in the midst of squalor, and are curiously feminine in a world of machismo, force and power. The role of the ANP is at the heart of every contradiction, as it is their job to keep the encroaching sides apart, yet help bring Afghanistan together as a nation.
Symondson had gained unique access to the men serving with the ANP and formed bonds of trust in this enormously difficult environment. His photographs are unique not only because the ANP is unique, but because of his empathy with his subjects, and the beauty he is able to bring to such chaotic juxtaposition.
The ANP paint their weapons with naive folk art, decorating them with flowers to beautify and soften their existence.
In a culture where women are hidden away in compounds, men turn to each other for comfort and sexual gratification. These intimate relationships are prominent in Symondson’s work, which shows the strong bonds these men share. The images are all the more surprising in a culture where homosexuality is punishable by death.
A character frequently seen is the ‘Chai boy’, shown below. He has a similar status to that of a beautiful woman; in return for sexual acts with older members within the group, he is cared for and can manipulate his adoring circle.
“Something about looking through a lens, rather than a rifle sight calmed me down. Recording the situation somehow
made it okay. The guys around me laughed; there is often something about being in extreme danger that’s funny.”
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DIE 4 U COLLECTION
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ORANGE 'DIE 4 U': 'ETHOS'
YELLOW 'DIE 4 U': 'LIBERTY'
PURPLE 'DIE 4 U': 'PROTECT AND PRESERVE'
PINK 'DIE 4 U': 'LOVE'
GREEN 'DIE 4 U': 'BROTHERHOOD'
WHITE 'DIE 4 U':'FREEDOM OF SPEECH'
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NFT COLLECTION
BRAN SYMONDSON THE ART TO DISARM
Past viewing_room
