Exhibition Review: Brian McCarty | War Toys

Brian McCarty. Running from Destruction. Hassansham, Iraq, 2018. © Brian McCarty. Courtesy of the artist and Musée de la Photographie.

Written by Maggie Wen

Copy Edited by Kee’nan Haggen

Photo Edited by Haley Winchell

War Toys by Brian McCarty is a series of works bearing children’s memories that helps process the war experience in Iraq, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and, more recently, Ukraine. According to the artist, cognitive ability develops earlier than language skills; children who’ve lived through war process their trauma via play or toys. 

Brian McCarty. Gaza Cinderella. Northern Gaza Strip, 2012. © Brian McCarty. Courtesy of the artist and Musée de la Photographie.

Brian McCarty. Gaza Cinderella, Childrens Drawing. Northern Gaza Strip, 2012. © Brian McCarty. Courtesy of the artist and Musée de la Photographie.

Brian McCarty. Vero. © Brian McCarty. Courtesy of the artist.

The contrast of cruelty from war compares to the naiveness of toys. The narrative writes it off the camera. McCarty places the usual princess we see in Disney films with their “happily ever after” running away from a bomb in the sky. It is the eye-catcher of the entire art series. 

Brian McCarty. Burning Neighborhood. Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2016 © Brian McCarty. Courtesy of the artist and Musée de la Photographie.

Brian McCarty. Refugee Camp Life. Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2014. © Brian McCarty. Courtesy of the artist and Musée de la Photographie.

War Toys expresses a way for adults to look at their method of processing trauma. Sometimes it is easier to be empathetic by telling fairy tales, but we have learned to process things through realist ideas in adulthood. Controlling words and connotations gives us the benefits of understanding the world as it is. However, we should look at everyday events through a child's eye. We may become more courageous when overcoming challenges and identifying the victim rather than being trapped in trying to define the victim. 

The exhibition goes from January 28th to May 21st at the Musée de la Photographie in France.

Brian McCarty. Gunned Down. © Brian McCarty. Courtesy of the artist.

Brian McCarty. Gunned Down, Children Drawing. © Brian McCarty. Courtesy of the artist.

Brian McCarty. Destroyed Bridge. West Mosul, Iraq, 2018. © Brian McCarty. Courtesy of the artist and Musée de la Photographie.