The Hurt of Flowers

Matt Sillars

The photographs are part of a larger body of work which attempts to represent the interaction between People and the State in a modern society.

People are represented by the simple metaphor of flowers – a device well used in a wide range of art forms from sculpture to photography. The apparatus, function, or effect, of state controls are represented by the wire.

I argue (often and loudly) that the state operates on many levels and is a necessary outcome of a capitalist society. Marx argued that the State and the People are in direct conflict with each other - they both wish to maximize their interests but can only do so at the expense of the other as they are both tied to the same yoke, thus conflict is inevitable and predictable. Other social theorists argue that the apparatus of the state exists because they have a useful role and are a consequence of the needs of societies. Thus schools, churches, etc exist as a response to the situation of that particular society.

Regardless of the perspective I do feel that systems exist that we are a part of, that we create and are in turn shaped by. They constrain, manipulate and govern our behaviour. That this is good or bad is not the question I address – simply that they exist.

This work explores this theme.

matt.sillars@tesco.net - consumerism is the way forward, K Marx (not .