Photo credits: Christopher Horne

Naming the Dead

Mixed media installation with sound
2018

More than 400 drone strikes have hit the tribal regions of north west Pakistan since 2004.

Naming the Dead was a collaborative effort to create connection between US citizens and Pakistani civilians killed by the CIA in drone strikes. Utilizing the data collected by Bureau of Investigative Journalism, I asked Americans of the same age and gender to read the name of a Pakistani deceased civilian from a list in order to relate and to start a dialogue. The list contained 354 names including two females and several children.

The upside-down surveillance domes were installed in the gallery at an average height of a specific age group and were equipped with MP3 player and a mini speaker so they would omit audio of Americans saying the names. Visitors were able to interact with the installation voluntarily and involuntarily by stepping on the names pasted on the floor. Larger and bold font names are the names that I am familiar with, such as those belonging to friends and relatives. The names Naila and Kamran in the above image are my parents’ names.

 Documentation of the installation at The Ruse Escape Rooms in Grand Rapids, MI

https://perspective3-d.com/3d-model/mahwish-chishty-naming-the-dead/skinned/