Adriana Groisman

http://www.ffotogallery.org/adriana-groisman-voices-of-the-south-atlantic

http://youtu.be/ml1uKKVevBM

I walked into town yesterday; as I passed the Peninsula Gallery, a large board of images caught my eye. The Exhibition on show was "Voices of the South Atlantic" by Adriana Groisman. It was the final day of the exhibit.  I was glad that it had drawn me in, but saddened that it was the final day. When I left the gallery, Adriana ran out after to me to ask if I would write in her book of comments. At first I thought "who is this mad woman chasing me!" but I stopped and she told me that she was the artist and liked to have peoples' views of her work. We spoke briefly as she had little time before she was due to catch her train. The work had left me with an emotional response and tears welled in my eyes. When I respond emotionally to a piece of work, I can say very little, it is only later that I am able to think about the work and make a response to it. An emotional response is a sign of a work that has proved its worth, it had touched me and I recognised its importance.

The Falklands War remains clear in my mind; to hear the voices of those who experienced it on both sides, was at the same time heart breaking and uplifting. The voices spoke of what they had done, how it has affected them and of the friendships British and Argentinian have made together.

Adriana's images of the sea where names of those lost were printed on each block, are metaphoric reminders of the fragility of life and the power of governments. The portraits and voices of those who experienced that war spoke with dignity of their losses and their pain.

Here is a Mobile image of part of the board of names

I would have liked to have spoken to Adriana for longer and wish that I had seen the Exhibition sooner as I would have returned to view it again. There was more to see than at first viewed.