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Matt Kenyon’s 2007 piece “Notepad” at first glimpse appears to be a stack of legal pads. However, he uses this mundane object to bring attention to the civilian deaths in the Iraqi war, printing the names of these loses, as well as the location and date, in microprint. The inclusion of this work in the State of Emergency art exhibition explores a different definition of disaster, one that is not natural but manmade. It also explores the purpose of art as a tool for social dissent.
The American invasion of Iraq in 2003 brought enormous suffering to the Iraqi people. It was a controversial decision at the time, and continues to be an emotionally charged issue for many Americans. In “Notepad,” Kenyon highlights this overlooked disaster that continues to claim many lives. The role of the media in bringing a disaster to the national conscience cannot be overstated. This is apparent in the deaths of Iraqi civilians: the media will headline the death of an American solider in Iraq, but then bury a small news bulletin about the large-scale civilian deaths in an interior page. This American-centric perspective of the Iraqi war minimizes the true cost of this war. By highlighting this, “Notepad” is a form of protest.
This piece of art grapples with the purpose of art as a tool for social dissident. As discussed in class, disasters serve to expose the fissures in society. “Notepad” brings to light an aspect of American society that the government would rather remain marginal. “Notepad” performs a different role from many other works depicting disaster; it is an act of protest against American policy. Additionally, this piece provokes active protest, in asking the gallery visitors to write letters to congressmen on the notepaper. This explores a different way of looking at disaster, in critiquing government response or responsibility, and pushing for policy change.
“Notepad” insinuates that through the act of acknowledging the dead, it allows them to recover the dignity lost in an anonymous death. This is an idea that is also seen in the American Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC as well as in Ai Weiwei’s Namelist, also presented in the State of Emergency gallery.
This piece is different from many of the other pieces on display in the State of Emergency gallery in that it deals with a different definition of a disaster, one that is not a natural disaster such as a hurricane or an earthquake. It portrays an act of war, and the civilian deaths that result from this war. In doing this, “Notepad” deals with a controversial subject, one that the American government wishes to minimize.
The way that disaster is portrayed in art is one way of looking at the myriad problems and changes that are produced during a disaster. “Notepad” addresses one aspect of the Iraqi war, the loss of dignity of the victims and its restoration through recognition and remembrance, and implies an American civic responsibility to respond to disaster. The way in which the victims are remembered is a crucial aspect of disaster study, as it can expose the political climate and act as a litmus test for national sentiment.