Guy Tillim

Soldiers I, 2002 - 2003

  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002  - Portrait I, 2002
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 - Portrait I, 2002
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait II
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait II
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait III
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait III
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait IV
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait IV
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait V
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait V
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait VI
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait VI
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait VII
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait VII
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait VIII
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait VIII
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait IX
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait IX
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait X
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait X
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XI
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XI
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XII
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XII
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XIII
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XIII
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XIV
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XIV
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XV
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XV
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5
  • Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XVI
    Mai Mai militia in training near Beni, eastern DRC, for immediate deployment with the APC (Armée Populaire du Congo), the army of the RCD-KIS-ML, December 2002 Portrait XVI
    archival pigment ink on 300g coated cotton paper, 85,5 × 59cm
    edition of 5

Guy Tillim’s Soldiers series of black-and-white handprints were taken between December 2002 and January 2003 and convey the devastating effect on civilians of the five-year war between the Congolese government and the ever-splintering rebel groups. According to UN figures, some two million people have been displaced by the conflict in eastern Congo.

On assuming power in 2001, President Joseph Kabila pledged to honor civil and political rights, but throughout 2002 he continued to exercise autocratic powers inherited from his late father and predecessor, Laurent Desire Kabila. The Ugandan and Rwandan governments continue to support various factions in securing access to one of the richest mineral areas in Africa (gold, diamonds, cobalt and columbia tantalite, or coltan). None of the factions have shown any respect for the civilian population, or for any length of time honored their cease-fire agreements.

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