About
“They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried.”―Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried
Objets d’ Mort is the first body of work in photographer Giles Duley’s series The Things They Carried (2023-24). The project distils notions of heroism, glorification of violence and war’s legacy down to simple items carried by soldiers.
In these exquisite, large-scale still lives, Duley uses his early training as a fashion photographer to present bombs, landmines and grenades as seductive, commercial items of beauty. Glossy advertising images of devices designed to kill and maim, and insidious weapons that lurk, hidden for generations after wars have passed.
The series includes the first air dropped bomb from World War 1, cluster munitions used during the Vietnam War, and grenades converted for drone use in Ukraine.
First shown in New York at Atelier Jolie in June 2024, Objets d’Mort is an uncompromising reminder that at its core, the industrial military complex is profit driven. Long after these profits have been shared, and the peace deals signed, civilians are still killed from the legacy of war.
Giles Duley is a photographer, writer, chef and presenter, born in 1971 in London. His award-winning work focuses on the long-term humanitarian impact of conflict and has been exhibited globally.
To find our more about Duley’s work, visit www.gilesduley.com.