Fog of war
A new exhibition marks 100 years since the beginning of World War I
From Robert Capa’s grainy pictures of the D-Day landings to Nick Ut’s photograph of the Vietnamese “Napalm Girl”, many of the 20th century’s most iconic images were taken in conflict zones. Some question the motives of war photographers – studies have shown the adrenaline rush generated by life-threatening situations is addictive – but it’s impossible to deny they play a vital role in showing the world the horrifying reality of war. It’s no coincidence that war stopped being seen as romantic when photojournalism began to appear more frequently in newspapers.
To mark the hundredth anniversary of the start of the First World War, Flowers Gallery is putting on an exhibition of war photography and painting, featuring work from Tim Hetherington (who died in Libya in 2011), Ken Currie and Simon Norfolk (work pictured right). The works are inspired by conflicts throughout the last century and provide a compelling account of man’s creative response to destruction.
Reflections of War: 100 years after the start of World War One opens 19 July at Flowers Gallery Kingsland Road and runs until 30 August