[flower war
Taken from a Print exhibition of a series of 4 x Ao sized large Photographic prints mounted on to 4 individually designed, large, smooth wet black finished wooden frames.
One popular idea of the 'Flower War' is that it was a special institutionalized kind of warfare where two, or more enemy states would plan battles through mutual arrangement in order to satisfy the religious needs of both combatant's populations, for war captives to use in sacrificial rituals but also, to train young warriors and enable social mobility which for the lower classes was primarily only possible through military service.
The Aztec ruling elite invented the custom of the 'Flowery Wars' during a drought-induced famine and economic hardship. The 'Flowery Wars' were not at all “inefficient” when it came to wielding power, but a very effective way to maintain power. Ritual battles (with real, not ritual blood) were set up not so much to contain warfare, but to drain the client states of their means of resistance. The point was for the Aztecs to win, take prisoners and rip their hearts out on the altars.
The death of warriors in Méxica poetry is usually described in terms of intoxicating beauty, the dying 'rain down like flowers'.
This was a huge photographic undertaking to capture the action, flowers, pollen, blood and effects to achieve the desired look. The use of studio, make up and composite images to build the images. My thanks to all who worked on this with me!
