Untitled
Untitled. (1999). Acrylic on canvas. 36 x 48 in. |
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Close ups of Untitled. |
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| This is a scene from Vietnam (probably Dong Ha). After the nightly (or bi-nightly) incoming attacks of rockets, mortars, or artillery (from above the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) in North Vietnam, I volunteered to help carry in an old Vietnamese woman and old Vietnamese man who had been wounded by our troops (M-16a). The doc said they were Viet Cong, and "you could tell by the tattoos on their shoulders." Well, of course there were no tattoos And, according to some friends Vietnamese did not wear tattoos. So, no tattoos - No VC? That is one layer. Another level is that when Mama san was looking from one man to the next as we stood in a circle around her. She was looking for sympathy? Recognition? Before she got to me, I decided not to show any feelings at all. Something closed down inside. I am not sure it really ever opened all the way up since then. So, the angry man is me. As I was painting this picture, I painted all the emotions I could not express then. I stopped at anger, because what came after that was too scary still. | ||
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