Sites of Conflict 2023

This series is an evolution from Zavier Ellis’ preoccupation in recent years with the French Revolution and represents a rhizomatic departure. Taking the revolution as a starting point, Ellis goes on to explore the fall of the Berlin Wall and the origins of Monotheism.

Paris, Berlin and Israel are identified as sites of conflict, places where fundamental historical events have impacted on future generations and continue to reverberate. Ellis is particularly keen to discover and illustrate the complex interconnectedness of such events and their ongoing impact.

Images of significant protagonists and cultural references are appropriated and incorporated into the paintings as collage elements. These are mapped onto gridded grounds, a reference to historical military flags and a signifier of the strategic game of chess. Ellis often references flags. In its most subtle form earlier paintings have been made to the ratio of specific flags, and national colours often dictate Ellis’ use of colour. In these paintings flags are displayed in images of protestors, from Mai ’68 to recent Israeli events. By such means, Ellis draws weblike parallels from deep history to today.

Although not didactic, Ellis seeks to question accepted values and undermine conditioning at a societal level. He questions power systems and explores protest and revolt. This deconstruction of history and search for truth beyond propaganda and linear narrative is not one of anti-establishment. It is rather a position in search of freedom within meritocracy, and against the abuses of power.