When I created this poster, my goal was to give a stark, visual voice to the truth stated in its title: “When war begins, learning ends.” This sentence is the foundation of the entire piece, and I aimed for an image that would convey its message with immediate and unsettling clarity.
At the base, you see an open book, universally recognized as a symbol of knowledge, education, and our collective understanding. But look above it. I’ve depicted these sharp, black, fragmented forms—perhaps shattered pieces of letters, symbols of culture, or broken ideas—suspended precariously by thin strings. They are like puppets, representing how learning and truth can be manipulated, controlled, or simply eradicated when conflict erupts. Their chaotic arrangement and implied downward movement signify profound disruption and loss.
The intense contrast between the deep black and the vibrant, almost alarming, yellow background was a deliberate choice. I wanted it to feel like an urgent warning. My sincere hope is that this image compels viewers to pause and reflect on one of the most devastating, yet often overlooked, consequences of war: the silencing of education and the irreversible fragmentation of human progress and potential. It’s my visual plea to safeguard learning.