The artistic redemption of suffering
Many years ago, when Terry Waite stood on the steps of an RAF plane which had brought him back from his years of captivity in the Lebanon, he talked about the need to ‘redeem’ suffering. Thus redeemed, the suffering experienced by him and other hostages could be turned into something altogether more positive. Perhaps they could take the isolation, deprivation and fear and redeem them in their future lives of freedom?
Yemeni artist Saba Jallas lives a life on only relative freedom. The advance of Houthi rebels across her land and resultant Arab coalition airstrikes have wrought untold damage and left thousands dead. In her own way, though, she has been redeeming the suffering. She has been drawing onto images of the bombing taken on her smartphone and transforming them into images of life, love and laughter. CLICK on each to see them in full size, or visit her Facebook page to see more.
Image i100.independent.co.uk
Image: i100.independent.co.uk
The artist says of her work ‘People told me the pictures give them hope. The reaction of Yemeni people gave me the push to continue’
Long may she do so. Maybe others can take up the challenge to transform images of ugliness into artworks of beauty?
