Eight Pauses, is an installation of eight photographs and a video. These images take their starting point from a map, ‘Where the Bombs Fell – Battersea Area’ by the Wandsworth Heritage Service at Battersea Library in London. The map indicates the location of World War Two bombs from 1939-1945 and suggests eight locations, where bombs fell in Battersea Park. The map was found when the artist was researching the local history of the London Borough of Wandsworth during the World Wars.

The photographs document the artist dressed as a British combat soldier, in the stand at ease position, at eight different locations where the bombs had exploded in the park. The artist is in camouflage gear, which was worn by a British soldier. The act of wearing a uniform of another nationality, is a symbolic reference to the enormous contributions of the Indian colonial soldiers who fought with/for the British Army during the World Wars.

Camouflage suggests various strategies of illusion, concealment, anonymity and integration. Within the context of the work, army camouflage provokes various reactions such as fear, aggression, security and disdain. The video accompanying the photographs consists of handwritten random thoughts collected from various people who observed the soldier standing in the park. While discovering the past, the artist explored the present-day Battersea Park, to create a dialogue with the memories of war and soldiers. Eight Pauses, offers a moment to contemplate the conflict and contradictions that often surrounds the presence of a soldier. It also questions the strategic nature of military events in a given place and their historical connotations in the present day.

The installation was developed from the artist’s previous performance titled, “Why is he here?”, 2011, which explores people’s reaction of himself, dressed as a soldier as he walked and paused in Battersea Park. Eight Pauses, was developed during Baptist Coelho’s Artist-in-Residence, supported by and at the Delfina Foundation, London, 2011-12. The residency was also supported by Creative India Foundation, Hyderabad; Pump House Gallery, London. In 2012, the installation was first exhibited as part of the artist’s two-person solo exhibition, Social States at Pump House Gallery, London. The exhibition was curated by George Unsworth.