AK-47 vs. M16
The Propeller Group
The Propeller Group
AK-47 vs. M16, 2015
Fragments of AK-47 and M16 bullets, ballistics gel, custom vitrine, single-channel video on monitor (color, silent)
Overall dimensions variable
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
Installation view: The Ecologies of Peace. Works from the TBA21 Collection, Centro de Creación Contemporánea de Andalucía C3A, Córdoba, Spain, 2024
Foto: Imagen Subliminal (Rocio Romero y Miguel de Guzmán)
- Date
- 2016
- Medium
- Fragments of AK-47 and M16 bullets, ballistics gel, custom vitrine, single-channel video on monitor (color, silent)
- Dimension
- Overall dimensions variable
- Credit
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
- This artwork is part of the donation and long-term loan from TBA21 to the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Details
During the Cold War, rifles symbolized much more than mere weapons; they represented the ideological battleground between the Soviet Union and the United States as they vied for global dominance. The AK-47, or Kalashnikov, epitomized communism’s might, whereas the M16 embodied the power of capitalism. These rifles, personifications of opposing ideologies, are the central motif in the Propeller Group’s installation, “freezing” layers of narrative, ideology, and historical perspectives within the gelatinous material.
The endeavor to engineer a convergence of two bullets within ballistic gel as demonstrated in AK-47 vs. M16 reflects the relentless pursuit of technological advancement and military superiority in the name of progress, freedom, and social betterment. Documented through high-speed film, the bullets’ collision within the gel block is a poignant illustration of the brutal head-on collision of capitalism and authoritarian communism. Given the nature of the proxy war that ravaged Vietnam for competing ideologies and geopolitical interests, this analogy also serves as a striking portrayal of the forces of destruction unleashed during the conflict.
Located in Ho Chi Minh, the Propeller Group consists of Tuan Andrew Nguyen, Phunam, and Matt Lucero. Their ambitious projects respond to the aftermath of the Vietnam War, offering a nuanced perspective that extends beyond national borders. As a Viet Keu (an overseas Vietnamese,) Nguyen recognizes the importance of fostering a global dialogue on the war, underscoring the conflict’s far-reaching implications and enduring legacy.
(Text written by TBA21 and used as wall label in the exhibition "The Ecologies of Peace", C3A, Córdoba, 2024)