AT THE FUNERAL OF WAR (2027-2029)
Following the ten-year research project On Friendship / (Collateral Damage), which made a lasting contribution to rethinking Western art history through the integration of Jewish iconography, the focus now shifts to the complex relationship between the ‘politics of war’ and the ‘politics of peace’. In a world where peace no longer simply signifies the absence of war, but is also tied to human rights, economic stability, and ecological security, this project raises fundamental questions about our present and future condition.
At the core of At the Funeral of War is the work of Joseph Sassoon Semah (the Guest) who interweaves historical and contemporary perspectives through art, text, and research. Biblical narratives, such as that of Noah, enter into dialogue with thinkers including Augustine of Hippo and Immanuel Kant, alongside contemporary authors. This creates a layered field in which art, philosophy, and religious texts converge to generate new insights into the dynamics of war, peace, and hope.
As Sassoon Semah states, war is an inseparable part of human existence, in which we constantly move between peace and conflict. The end of a war signifies not only destruction, but also the loss of a certain form of humanity, a realization that lies at the heart of this project.
At the Funeral of War unfolds as an international platform for reflection and exchange, featuring exhibitions, performances, publications, and discursive programs. The project invites artists, thinkers, and audiences to collectively engage with the urgent questions of our time and to formulate new perspectives on a future beyond war.
