The artwork named “Casualties of Modernity,” created by Kent Monkman in 2012, belongs to the art movements of postcolonial art and queer art, and is categorized as figurative in genre.
“Casualties of Modernity” presents a striking depiction that juxtaposes traditional landscape with elements of contemporary crisis. The landscape features a dramatic canyon extending into the horizon with majestic mountains cloaked in mist in the background. The sky is painted with hues of a setting sun, casting an ethereal glow over the rugged terrain. The foreground of the artwork reveals a dramatic scene with a sense of peril and urgency; rescue workers attend to a capsized vehicle, with injured individuals being carried on stretchers. Nearby, vehicles are precariously positioned near the canyon’s edge, further accentuating the theme of modern chaos intruding into the natural world. The presence of a rescue helicopter in the sky adds to the sense of a modern emergency response amidst this idyllic yet dangerous natural setting. Monkman’s work critiques the impositions of modernity and interventions that disrupt natural serenity, commenting on the complexities of contemporary existence through a poignant and visually arresting piece.
