The exhibition “In 36,000 ways," is a dynamic exploration of contemporary warfare, integrating photography and sculpture. Ben Khelifa's new project is deeply entrenched in research that includes field visits of war zones, scientific inquiries, and an examination of military terminology. 

At the heart of “In 36,000 ways," is an ordinary yet potent object: shrapnel collected by the artist on a frontline in Southern Ukraine. Ben Khelifa highlights the eerie appeal of these metal fragments, magnifying them to uncover forms that are reminiscent of ancient relics and artifacts. In a unique site-specific installation, jagged metal pieces are suspended mid-air, creating a menacing cluster against the gallery's pristine white walls, frozen in their deadly path. Once part of a violent context, these objects are recontextualized post-detonation, gaining new significance.

“In 36,000 ways," highlights a grim fusion of cutting-edge technology and one of humanity's oldest, most primitive impulses: the urge to kill and dominate. These fragments, born from advanced material science, ballistic studies, and aerodynamics, are conceived in the sterile environments of military labs. This pursuit of destructive excellence, however, underscores a harsh contradiction: our technological advancements have not paralleled moral development. 

The injuries of modern fragmentation weapons, such as the S-300 Russian missile, which can unleash up to 36,000 razor-cutting fragments, mirror the wounds inflicted by the earliest instruments of combat. They echo the same primal savagery, ripping through flesh, breaking bones, piercing vital organs, just accelerating in effectiveness. These man made tools are a stark reminder of our never ending propensity for domination through violence.

Karim Ben Khelifa encourages visitors to consider how those involved in warfare, particularly those distant from the frontlines, avoid accountability for their actions. He achieves this by contrasting the brute object with the sanitized, scientifically-derived military language that emphasizes efficiency and performance.