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Chris Sickels' "Queen of Diamonds"

May 27, 2016

There was a trend in the American Civil War and wars that preceded where privileged civilians would perch upon a distant hillside, layout a picnic and observe the battle. Although we no longer perch ourselves on a hill to watch with fascination, we still do watch from afar via our screens. I grew up with the views of night vision cross hairs from above as buildings disappeared in explosive flashes, with no evidence of lives being destroyed.

As I created this piece I reflected on how theatrical war can be framed from a distance. My Queen of Diamonds reigns over the battlefield as she births soldiers, mapping their movements while seemingly unaffected by their perishing. This unafection seems all too common.

This piece was created for the project: 52 Reasons to Love a Vet. The Queen of Diamonds is an archival C-Print of objects created with polymer clay, wire, foam, fabric and brass. The set consists of a painted backdrop, mud, and generic plastic soldiers.

--Chris Sickels / Red Nose Studio

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