Art or War: Bullet Paintings

Taking a provocative approach to materials and medium, artist Viktor Mitic incorporates bullet holes into his paintings of iconic figures. The resultant art, hailed with controversy, is collected in this volume that makes clear the artists’ aim: to use weapons to create rather than to destroy. Eleven of the paintings presented are accompanied by prose or poetry responses from distinguished Canadian authors, including Erika Ritter, George Elliott Clarke, George Fetherling, Katherine Govier, Catherine Bush, Susan Musgrave, Gary Michael Dault, Barry Dempster, Jim Nason, and Goran Simic. Included with the book is a film by Laurie Kwasnik of the artist at work, with commentary by curators, critics, and fellow artists who include Terry Graff, Ryan Grover, Charles Pachter, Pamela Edmonds, Cole Swanson, and Ewan Whyte.