Conquering Place, 2015-

Conquering Place will explore through film and images the traces left by military occupation and regime change, both contemporary and historically. The project will focus on Central Europe and is inspired by the artist's own history as a child of the Cold War who lived with the US military in Germany.

"Conquering Place" is an animation and a series of drawings and photographs based on research about the cultural impact of the US military presence in Germany. Elements include square-dancing; the town of Kitzingen and buried bombs; and the current state of former US military bases in Germany. How these influences come together will be evocative, a mixture of facts and impressions and is inspired by growing up in the military. The project will show both the vagaries in cultural exchanges as well as the permanent impact of military occupation.

kitzingen

Kitzingen, Charcoal on Paper

Claim

The Claim, Charcoal on Paper

Claim

Square Dancing Diagram, Ink on Paper

Claim

Square Dancing Diagram, Ink on Paper

Claim

The Gate, Ink on paper

Claim

Dissolving Buildings, Ink on Paper

Claim

Another Gate, Ink on Paper

 

all images copyright Kim Collmer