Shannon Benine

Means Without End, 2008-2014

This multimedia installation explores the profound and often invisible impact of war on American society. This project examines the human cost of military conflict, focusing on the psychological and emotional toll on individuals, families, and communities.

Created in response to the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, "Means Without End" comprises thousands of 10x10 inch photograms, each representing an American life lost in combat. These photograms, created in total darkness using analog photographic processes, are rendered in shades of red and yellow, evoking the visceral impact of war.

This immersive installation, comprised of thousands of these individually crafted photograms, collectively forms a powerful visual representation of the human cost of war. As viewers encounter this vast field of fading images, they are invited to contemplate the profound and often invisible ways in which military conflict affects individuals, families, and society as a whole.