‘Bearing Witness’ for Survivors of Abu Ghraib
April 8, 2011
"The Broomstick Was Metal" 2008 © Daniel Heyman
In his portrait series, “Bearing Witness,” artist Daniel Heyman looks into the face of this history directly. Heyman is a first-person witness to the aftermath of imprisonment of over 40 Iraqis held and subsequently released from Abu Ghraib.
Heyman sat in on interviews between human rights lawyers and these former Abu Ghraib detainees, sketching not only their images but adding their testimony as part of the overall work.
"They Took Me To A Dark Room," 2008 © Daniel Heyman
On his site, Heyman writes about the impact of hearing first-hand the experiences of the detainees:
I am a proud American citizen who needed to know the truth of what was happening. In 2004, when the first reports of Americans torturing Iraqis appeared, I no longer recognized my own country. My only stake in the matter was that I love my country and what it stands for in the world —civil rights, the rule of law, habeas corpus, and something as simple as the right to wear clothing in prison. I have no special access to information and no security clearance. I only have my ears and a desire to listen to what happened. I continue to be astonished and disturbed at what I’ve seen and heard. (Source)
“Bearing Witness” is currently on view at the White Box Gallery at the University of Oregon in Portland through May 14, 2011. See more of Daniel Heyman’s portraits at his official site.
