And some of us returned, and some of us did not
‘In the dark places’ by PJ Harvey
‘In the dark places’ by PJ Harvey
Landscapes are not only made up of layers of rock, but also of layers of memory. Events of the past have inscribed themselves into the landscape. They have formed traces, cracks and physical scars that remain even after the events have long been forgotten and the material residues have disappeared. After traumatic events - such as war, massacres and crimes - places often retain a sense of unease. Similar to the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder - where disquiet is deeply embedded in the body - this restlessness persists even when nature has swallowed everything and created apparently idyllic places. The only mute witnesses are then old trees that silently remind us that the past will never be over.
