Liberia does not speak of its bloody civil war (1989-2003). None
memorial has not been built, no day is dedicated to commemoration. Still held
by some of the protagonists of the carnage, the country still refuses to condemn
his executioners. This silence, amplified by an international silence, sweeps away all
social recognition of tragedy and denies the very essence of memory
collective, generating a deep feeling of abandonment coupled with resignation
sleepy. The trauma of an entire population crystallizes in a
society with foundations of clay and sweats on a new generation to
the troubled future. Elliott Verdier's photographic and sound work has
spread over two years. The shots were taken over the entire
territory, from the diamond mines of Gbarpolu to the fishing port of Harper, in
passing through the immense shanty town of Westpoint. The silver photographs,
made in the 4x5 camera, offer two interwoven sequences, one in black &
white and the other in color. Added to these are recordings made in
studio where we listen to the voices of women and men, victims or executioners, who
narrate their damaged destinies. The monochromes are contextual images,
dark and enigmatic, which set the scene for the color portraits. These
b&w are a reference to the night, often present in testimonies and
described as the moment when trauma becomes palpable. They distill a
heavy atmosphere and spread the stifling silence that reigns over the country.
From this silence emerge the words restored from the recordings, on fragile
layers, as if to come and constellate inaudible murmurs this night
Liberian.
