HOUSE OF FINE ART PRESENTS 'THE ART TO DISARM' BY BRAN SYMONDSON
“I see the AK-47 as a blank canvas. I know the gun well, I’ve shot it, I’ve been shot at by it, I can strip it down, I can fire it but the only moment I get the realisation that it’s a weapon is when it arrives at the studio still covered in gun grease. Once I clean it and begin working on it, the fact that it’s a weapon disappears, and it becomes about beauty.”
- Bran Symondson
House of Fine Art proudly presents The Art to Disarm, a solo exhibition by British artist and documentary photographer Bran Symondson. This will be Bran's first solo show in the UK since 2011 and the only time he has brought together his diverse body of work.
The exhibition takes a timely look back on his personal experiences of Afghanistan both as a member of the British Army Special Forces in 2008 and as a photographer embedded with the Afghan National Police in 2010. It includes personal memorabilia from Symondson’s time in the army and photographs he shot during the period, alongside pieces demonstrating the evolution of his practice as a sculptor. The recent fall of Afghanistan inspired him to revisit his archive, create new works and present this reflexive and poignant exhibition.
“With the recent news, many ex-army friends were reaching out to me which inspired me to look through my hard drive. I was so shocked by how rich and diverse the images were, there were so many small and forgotten moments.” - Bran Symondson
Bran is also known for his philanthropic work towards increasing awareness of worldwide issues through his photographs and raising money for charities through the donation of his AK47s. To date, he has raised more than £580,000 through his contributions.
The Art to Disarm exhibition runs until 9th December 2021
House of Fine Art, Mayfair, London W1
