Veteran (You Won’t Forget)
| Height | 136 cm |
|---|---|
| Width | 12 cm |
| Length/Depth | 12 cm |
13x13x135 cm
The engraved tattoo "17.02.69" marks a brutal day during the Vietnam War—a time of immense suffering, environmental devastation, and human loss. Toxic weapons scarred both people and nature, while acts of violence were glorified.
This sculpture reflects the lasting wounds of war—physical, emotional, and ecological. The date on the forehead grounds the work in the horrors of the Vietnam War, evoking the relentless toll of daily casualties and the widespread use of toxic weapons like Agent Orange. These scars symbolize survival but also humanity’s capacity for destruction.
By immortalizing these contradictions in a physical form, the piece critiques the glorification of those who "killed the most," challenging viewers to reflect on the paradox of heroism born from violence. It forces us to confront how war imprints itself on the human body, psyche, and the natural world.
*War leaves scars—on bodies, minds, and the Earth itself. Will we ever truly remember, or ever truly learn?*
Katya Quel
Katya completed her studies in fine art and sculpture at the KHB Weißensee in 2021 with her project “Iconostasis of Hypocrisy”. She studied under Prof. Hannes Brunner. In 2019–2020, she spent two exchange semesters at the Beaux-Arts de Paris, France, in the studio of Guillaume Paris.
In 2023, she also received her Master’s degree.
Katya actively exhibits in Berlin and is frequently involved in exhibitions around the world – Paris, Barcelona, Mexico City, New York City, Milan, Copenhagen, Zagreb, etc.
