Art

Chess Art

This is a series of art pieces based on the idea of chess, which is a game modeled on war. The series illustrates a few concepts about war and peace, using only chess boards. It’s been many years since I made these art pieces, and I no longer have the chess boards. Instead I have only a few snapshot photos, which is what you see here. And even though the photographs are not high-quality, I think the idea of the art comes through.

Revolution

Chess art. Rearrangement of chess board pieces.
People. That is the point of a revolution. People want their voices heard. People do not want oppression. People want to live freely and fairly. Their power is in their collective unity.

Hope

Chess art. Chess board has been flipped over so there are no squares or positions for the pieces.
If the battleground is removed, is there war? The battlefield is in our minds. Erase the battlefield.

Conscientious Objection

Chess art. A chess board in starting configuration with no pawns.
Conscientious: "wishing to do what is right." In this case, saying no to being a pawn used for war. What does a war look like without pawns?

Chess

Chess art. This is a chess board that has been damaged by the conflict (the game of chess). The board shows the impact of a battle. This art was made using a hammer to deface the chess board, and splattered paint to represent the loss of chess pieces.
What chess really looks like.

Flesh

Chess art. This chess board shows pawns painted varying colors and tones representative of flesh (rather than the chess pieces always being black and white).
A more realistic version of chess adapted to real life. Start to break down the dichotomy. Indeed, we are people.

Peace

Chess art. Pieces of a chess board arranged peacefully, without conflict.
What if the board pieces moved freely without aggression?