"War Legacy Display Held at Bryan Adams' Car Park - 'Wounded' Photo Exhibition"
The poignant photographic exhibition, "Wounded - The Legacy of War" by Bryan Adams, is currently on display at the Kulturraffinerie parking garage in Monheim until August 10th. This powerful exhibition features large-format photographs of women and men from the British Army who were wounded during deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Each photograph in the exhibition is supplemented with personal accounts from the depicted individuals, providing a deeply moving and intimate insight into their experiences. The exhibition is not just about the current concern over war, but also about how veterans deal with their service, especially their injuries.
The event in Monheim follows the exhibition's debut in Berlin on June 15, 2025, as part of Germany’s first official Veterans Day celebration. The exhibition aligns with Germany’s newly introduced Veterans Day, intended to acknowledge the sacrifices of military personnel and to foster public dialogue around veterans’ experiences.
One of the individuals depicted is Private Karl Hinett, who suffered severe burns during a deployment near Basra when a furious mob poured gasoline over him and set him on fire. Hinett's recovery took years, and he later got tattoos, including the word "unscarred" across his belly button. The word "unscarred" in German means "scar-free," and Hinett sees his mental state as "scar-free" or "unmarked."
The exhibition is open every Friday and Saturday (6 pm to 10 pm) and Sunday (3 pm to 6 pm) until August 10th. Tickets for the exhibition are only available in advance from Monheimer Kulturwerke or Tickets. The tickets cost 5 or 9 euros.
Several hundred visitors, including those from distant places like Gelsenkirchen, attended the opening of the exhibition. Some visitors were drawn to the event because of Bryan Adams' presence, with one stating, "If a celebrity is coming." However, Adams wanted to remain inconspicuous, leading to scenes reminiscent of street carnivals at the barriers keeping the audience away from him.
While the exhibition and Veterans Day event aimed to honor veterans and stimulate dialogue, they were not without controversy. Some leftist groups protested, fearing that the event might glorify the military or serve as a recruitment tool amid Germany’s intensified military buildup due to the war in Ukraine. Nonetheless, the exhibition stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of war on individuals, advocating for greater empathy and practical support for veterans.
In sum, Bryan Adams' "Wounded - The Legacy of War" exhibition provides a visually compelling and emotionally resonant exploration of veterans' experiences, commemorating their sacrifices and calling for improved recognition and assistance from society and government alike. The images in the exhibition are silent, but the portraits and their accompanying accounts are thought-provoking, encouraging viewers to reflect on the true cost of war and the resilience of those who serve.
The exhibition, "Wounded - The Legacy of War" by Bryan Adams, also delves into the realms of politics and general news, as it aligns with Germany’s newly introduced Veterans Day, fostering public dialogue around veterans' experiences and acknowledging their sacrifices in the context of war-and-conflicts. The artistic display is not just a commemoration of veterans' hardships, but also a call for attention to the ongoing repercussions of war on individuals, inspiring empathy and prompting society to provide practical support for those who have served.
