THE CASSPIR PROJECT
An unprecedented undertaking comprised of multi-faceted installation, photography, oral history, and documentary.
THE VEHICLE
The central element of the project is one of reclamation. The restored and refitted Casspir vehicle, its surfaces fully covered in elaborate, brightly-colored panels of glass beadwork, arrayed in traditional patterns was completed by artisans from Zimbabwe and the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, including women of the Ndebele tribe, known for their craftsmanship.
The “Casspir” series, captured in Kliptown, South Africa is a cinematic portrayal of the Casspir vehicle in stunning and terrifying use. This series of photographs also feature the regalia textiles and the AK-47 beaded sculpture.
The UN estimates that there are more than five hundred million small arms in circulation around the world. More than seventy million of those are estimated to be AK 47’s.
Ninety percent of all casualties in wars around the world are caused by small arms.
Eighty percent of those killed are civilians.
The textiles of the Casspir Project showcase the work produced by a network of artisans that developed into the colaborative backbone of the project.