Emkan

 

The struggles of Anna Coleman Ladd have inspired this series. During the first world war, in her studio in France, Ladd tried to help wounded soldiers who were suffering severely from facial wounds and injuries, and as a result, were not able to confront their families or return to their countries, even after the end of the war. This situation sometimes lasted several months or even years.
Using materials such as copper and plaster, Ladd molded the faces of these soldiers, and after coloring, created masks that very much improved their faces and boosted their self-confidence and mental cohesion, helping them to eventually decide to return to their families and countries.
In the works of this series, we are also witnessing the active presence of women on the battlefield and its relations. Women, the central core of the soldiers’ families, play a crucial role in this field. Here, we are facing a paradox. The person who longs for the end of the war and the return of her loved one actively prolongs the war.