Original artwork description:

In the thought-provoking collection titled "Bagged," artist Aboud Fares delves into the unsettling reality of how the casualties of pandemics and wars can transform into mere statistics and numbers, detached from the human stories that define them. Through a series of dark, black resin sculptures, the artist crafts a poignant commentary on the dehumanization of loss and the overwhelming fear that replaces empathy.

The sculptures take the form of heads encased in plastic bags, a haunting visual metaphor for the reduction of individuals to anonymous entities. These heads hang suspended, symbolizing the suspended emotions that often accompany mass tragedies. The use of resin as the primary medium lends an eerie, almost frozen quality to the figures, underlining the notion that these once vibrant lives are frozen in time as mere statistics.

One of the most striking aspects of the collection is the incorporation of glossy paint, resembling tape that covers the eyes, mouths, or both on some of the sculptures. This element powerfully portrays how the voices of the deceased are silenced, as they are figuratively "taped" shut, unable to bear witness to the ongoing events. This imagery draws a parallel between the figurative blindfolding of the deceased and the societal tendency to ignore or overlook the magnitude of human suffering.

"Bagged" compels viewers to confront the uncomfortable reality that human lives can be overshadowed by the cold, hard numbers presented during times of crisis. The sculptures stand as a stark reminder that every individual counted in the statistics was once a person with dreams, aspirations, and relationships. By focusing on the head—a locus of identity, expression, and emotion—the artist drives home the message that these lives deserve more than to be reduced to numerical values.

Materials used:

resin, fiberglass, wood

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