"Soft breezes stir the air...

but threatening north wind sweeps them suddenly aside

The shepherd trembles, fearful of violent storm and what may lie ahead

His limbs are now awakened from their repose

by fear of lightning's flash and thunder's roar,

as gnats and ies buzz furiously around."

Author: Unknown

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In August 2016, an image of a 5 years old Syrian child named Omran took the world by storm. His life, along with many Syrian lives turned up-side-down, with nowhere to hide. The summer storm in my ears sound the horror that Syrians must have confronted. The stillness of a sunny summer day gives way suddenly to a Summer Storm, a sudden change from a beautiful day to a thundering fear.  The melody intensifies, the storm turns everything into chaos, as people seek refuge in their houses. 

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I projected news coverage of Omran's surfacing clip on the façade of the Carpenter Center at Harvard University, juxtaposed with the sounds of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Over the repeating squares of Le Corbusier’s design, the news’ ceaseless repetition of Omran's footage with cinematic effects and harrowing images was magnified, putting into relief the exploitation of human suffering for the sake of TV ratings.

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This Project was part of the class VIS-2481: Public Projection, by Professor Krzysztof Wodiczko at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. Fall 2016

 

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