The work of redemption

The philosopher Adorno called redemption a re-accounting of everything which had taken place, but it should be done without any beautification or additional fiction. Only when we have a clear account and see what took place back then, do we get the chance not to repeat the same mistake. That is redemption at work insofar as we learn our lessons from the past.

But before talking about the problems to be dealt with when undertaking such painting actions meant to initiate work of redemption, something became known when preparing the exhibition and symposium in Tallahassee through the key person responsible: Tom Anderson. As an educator, he is a long standing member of the International Committee of Kids' Guernica and therefore since the very beginning of Kids' Guernica one of its key figures.

To give a glimpse into what moves him, it may be allowed to cite out one of his letters following story which reveals as much about himself as it underlines what working towards peace is all about. For there is always a need to follow up tragic events caused by war. If we are ever to learn to resolve conflicts peacefully i.e. in a non violent way, then it has to include as well re-visiting places where we caused pain and even harm in the past.

Nagasaki 2010

After seeing the images children had painted at ground zero of Nagasaki, and this in preparation for the exhibitions in both Nagasaki and Tallahassee in January 2010, Tom Anderson reaccounted what experience he made when he visited that special memorial place in Nagasaki. He wrote:

“When standing there, a Japanese woman appeared suddenly beside him. She had signs of burns all over her skin and in her nose were tubes to breathe. She had suddenly appeared beside him. When she looked up to him, she smiled. He realized she was one of those who had survived by miracle the atomic blast.”

Tom goes on to describe how much her smile unsettled him. After all he was an American! Suddenly he felt such pain, that he could no longer stand being there. Within one hour he was again on board of one of the bullet trains ready to leave Nagasaki.

Such human pain accompanies Kids' Guernica. It constitutes fore mostly the work of redemption, namely to let this pain come out. The human cry of anguish is often done in silence. It may be shown only by some tear drops in the eyes as seen on the left side of the peace mural from Lebanon. Right now a student of Monique Kissel is working on that special human moment when the human soul cries out so much pain, that the entire human being is revealed.

Enough! We want to live. Peace mural from Lebanon 2007

Thus besides all visible encounters with war in the form of bombs, destroyed cities and if not killed, then wounded people, there are all these invisible wounds. War and all violent conflicts leave scars on the human soul and makes these human beings become often wordless. Like all abused children. They experience very much the same that once trust in other human beings is gone, they are marked for life.

Human pain touches upon the incomprehensible.

How is it possible that a fellow human being wishes to inflict so much pain upon others, in particular innocent civilians?

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The work of redemption