Broken Warrior bears witness to the violence warriors are asked to withstand. Brenda presents neither weapon nor triumphant conqueror — only the defensive shell left behind by a warrior who once stood on guard.
Drawing upon several cultures and historical periods, Brenda resists presenting an unequivocally masculine identity, allowing the broken armour to stand collectively for those who have placed themselves between others and harm. Its incompleteness reminds us that those who protect, are themselves vulnerable, and that their courage does not leave them unscathed.
At full scale, the armour appears formidable. Yet, made of fired clay — earth transformed to resemble worn leather and metal — it, like the warrior it is meant to protect, can still be broken. Broken Warrior asks us to consider not only who stands on guard, but what standing on guard may ask of each of us — and what remains when our duty is done.
