Carter Flachbarth American, b. 1996
“PEECE” is a reflection of the unfortunate events that have taken place in the past year pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. The title “PEECE” is an invented homophone between “Piece” and “Peace.” The title references both the world being in “pieces” and the ensuing chaotic struggle in pursuit of “peace.” PEECE expresses the world being in a limbo between pieces and peace without being either one. In this work, the figure is seen bent over “picking up the pieces” both metaphorically and literally. Behind the figure is a blue sky with clouds, and on the figure’s jumper is a night sky of stars. The use of these motifs is meant to communicate the idea that this figure is a dreamer or has their “head in the clouds.” Although these motifs communicate identical themes of hopefulness, they are diametric opposites. This is similar to the story of this past year as the world seemed to diametrically fall apart and rebuild itself simultaneously, leaving hopefulness as one of the only observable constants in the world. Ultimately, this work expresses the narrative of that hopefulness.