“Abu Ghraib”
20″ x 14.5″, lithograph on wove paper (signed, numbered 46/250) (2004)
Created during the 2004 Bush/Kerry election campaign as a commentary on the horrific torture done by American soldiers at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, as far as my collection is concerned there are several things that stand out about this work. First, it is (as far as I recall) the first piece I’ve acquired which I’ve really tracked first. By that I mean I saw the piece, decided I loved it, and then actively kept an eye out for it to see if and when it might come for sale at a reasonable price.
Second, it is a rare instance where Jill and I diverge on how we view a piece. I see it as a powerful political image that still echoes Serra’s (typically more non-representational) style. Jill finds it too disconcerting to look at; she’s banished it to the basement of the house (which I’m fine with).
