Peace Was Once a Nobel Cause

This banner is my reflection on the current state of world diplomacy.

The Uppsala Conflict Data Program recorded 55 active state-based armed conflicts in 2022. Eight of these conflicts reached the level of war, and 22 of them were internationalized, meaning that one or both parties received troop support from an external state. They found fatalities from organized violence in 2022 increased by a staggering 97% compared to the previous year.

Like so many I mourn the loss of life worldwide and feel utterly helpless, and turned to textiles to help me meditate on the present and process the current state of conflict in the world. The banner is made from my husband's and my old shirts; thrift store found batting and backing with the letters made from a long-forgotten family tablecloth.