“Toy Soldiers” by Amal Lad
This photograph is copyright of Steve McCurry. No Copyright infringement intended. www.stevemccurry.com
During a study session in Birmingham Library this summer, my brother and I decided to visit the Steve McCurry Photo exhibition at the nearby Birmingham Art Gallery. I have known about Steve McCurry’s famous images such as the Afghan Girl, which was featured on the cover of National Geographic, and I was expecting to be blown away by the power in his photographic vision.
As my eyes bounced from intricately weaved landscapes to portraits so raw I could feel the skin, I became affixed to this particular shot of a young boy. The emotion poured out of the frame in a frenzy of confusion, panic and misunderstanding.
I remembered a time when I would try to forget “depressing” images like this and disconnect myself from the reality of life for people living on the other side of the world. I remembered a time when I was filled with gratitude for having the freedom to choose my career path, which TV program I will choose to watch and which breakfast cereal I will choose to eat.
However, it was impossible for me to forget the face of that young boy, from the snot running down his face to the worn away Spiderman top. War is the pre-determined fate of many children. Many are forced into battle and many are forced into a coffin. For this boy, it seems like he has already seen enough pain and can see only one way out.
The music I have composed, titled “Toy Soldiers”, is an interpretation of the impact this photo had on me.
Toy Soldiers (Original) by Amal Lad
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