FRIENDLY FIRES
The WAR GAMES and FRIENDLY FIRES projects are both attempts to approach the limits of the object. Rather than an approach based on the form, or the application, the projects focus on the referential content of the object.
FRIENDLY FIRES consists of six different “Tap-ball” rackets, silkscreen printed on one side. The term refers to the eponym military notion, who is described as a fire coming from one’s own side or allied forces. Each of the six rackets relates to an exemple of a friendly-fire that occured in the human history since the invention of the gun powder. The “Tap-ball” game rejoins the definition of friendly-fire: the side pitching the ball is also the side receiving it.
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Les projets WAR GAMES et FRIENDLY FIRES sont des tentatives d’approcher les limites de l’objet. Plutôt qu’une approche basée sur la forme ou l’usage, les projets se concentrent sur le contenu réferentiel de l’objet.
FRIENDLY FIRES (Feux-Amis) est constitué de six raquettes de “Tape-balle” différentes et sérigraphiées d’un côté. Le terme fait référence à la notion militaire éponyme, qui est décrite comme un tir d’un soldat sur un individu de la même armée ou du même camp. Chacune des six raquettes relate un exemple de feu-ami qui s’est déroulé dans l’histoire humaine depuis l’invention de la poudre à canon. Le jeu “Tape-balle” rejoint la définition du feu-ami: le côté qui tire la balle est également celui qui la reçoit.
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FRIENDLY FIRE 8
In 1801, at the Battle of Algeciras Bay, Spanish ships Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo mistakenly engaged each other in the dark after British ships sailed between them and fired at both. 1,700 are killed when the two ships explode.
FRIENDLY FIRE 23
On September 10, 1939, British submarine HMS Triton sank another British submarine, HMS Oxley, mistaking it for a German U-boat and having received no responses to challenges. Oxley was the first Royal Navy vessel to be sunk and also the first vessel to be sunk by a British vessel in the war.
FRIENDLY FIRE 27
In 1943, General Omar Bradley recalled that his column was attacked by American A-36s in Sicily. The tanks lit yellow smoke flares to identify themselves to their own aircraft, but the attacks continued, so the tanks were forced to fire and downed an aircraft.
FRIENDLY FIRE 31
On May 11 1969, during the Battle of Hamburger Hill, Lt. Col. Weldon Honeycutt directed Cobra helicopter gunships to support an infantry assault. In the heavy jungle, the Cobras mistook the command post of the 3/187th battalion for a Vietnamese unit and attacked, killing two and wounding thirty-five, including Honeycutt.
FRIENDLY FIRE 47
An USAF F-15 called in to support British ground forces in Afganistan drops a bomb on those forces, killing Privates Aaron McClure and Robert Foster, both 19, and John Thrumble, 21, of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, and severely injuring two others.
FRIENDLY FIRE 52
Bulgarian Junior Sergeant Gardi Gardev was shot southeast of Diwaniya in southern Iraq. Gardev’s patrol had fired warning shots to stop an Iraqi civilian car when it received heavy fire from the direction of a U.S. Army communications facility 165 yards away.
FRIENDLY FIRE 8
In 1801, at the Battle of Algeciras Bay, Spanish ships Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo mistakenly engaged each other in the dark after British ships sailed between them and fired at both. 1,700 are killed when the two ships explode.
FRIENDLY FIRE 23
On September 10, 1939, British submarine HMS Triton sank another British submarine, HMS Oxley, mistaking it for a German U-boat and having received no responses to challenges. Oxley was the first Royal Navy vessel to be sunk and also the first vessel to be sunk by a British vessel in the war.
FRIENDLY FIRE 27
In 1943, General Omar Bradley recalled that his column was attacked by American A-36s in Sicily. The tanks lit yellow smoke flares to identify themselves to their own aircraft, but the attacks continued, so the tanks were forced to fire and downed an aircraft.
FRIENDLY FIRE 31
On May 11 1969, during the Battle of Hamburger Hill, Lt. Col. Weldon Honeycutt directed Cobra helicopter gunships to support an infantry assault. In the heavy jungle, the Cobras mistook the command post of the 3/187th battalion for a Vietnamese unit and attacked, killing two and wounding thirty-five, including Honeycutt.
FRIENDLY FIRE 47
An USAF F-15 called in to support British ground forces in Afganistan drops a bomb on those forces, killing Privates Aaron McClure and Robert Foster, both 19, and John Thrumble, 21, of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, and severely injuring two others.
FRIENDLY FIRE 52
Bulgarian Junior Sergeant Gardi Gardev was shot southeast of Diwaniya in southern Iraq. Gardev’s patrol had fired warning shots to stop an Iraqi civilian car when it received heavy fire from the direction of a U.S. Army communications facility 165 yards away.