Army Men: Symbolic Plastic
03.19.03Operation United States Freedom
214 plastic 'Army Men' were deployed in and around Manhattan in New York City. They were placed in buildings, in public and private areas, and on 'the streets". This was done the same day as the "2003 invasion of Iraq" when 214,000 United States service men and women were deployed in Iraq.
Operation United States Freedom
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Description
Plastic 'Army Men' were purchased from a local 'dollar store' in Manhattan. On May, 19th 2003, the day that the United States coalition forces invaded the country of Iraq, 214 plastic army soldiers were placed in and around the Manhattan area. Some soldiers were placed 'on the streets' such as on top of public mailboxes, street corners and curbs. Others were placed in areas of higher educations such as in and around Columbia University and New York University. Many were placed inside university buildings as well as public buildings. Some were placed in public parks.
This was a symbolic gesture made to draw attention to a military invasion. In reaction to the invasion it was necessary to reinforce the publics perspective the is so often dominated by the spectacle of the media. Physical symbols of military power such as the placing of 'army men', even as simplistic as it seems, is a gesture of creating unavoidable situational instances where even the site of such symbols can provoke individual and group reflections.
One of the ideas was, how would it feel to the average Manhattan urbanite if New York City was invaded and under an occupied force? Can an individual artist create a symbolic action that might reflect this perspective? Can an individual artist draw attention away from the 'media machine' with physical situational objects?
Through the use of temporary artistic instances at basic levels, new conversations and dialogues are possible.
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