Kiluanji Kia HendaDivinum Tormentum (The Divine Ordeal) #8, 2020 - 2021
This haunting photograph is part of Kiluanji Kia Henda’s Divinum Tormentum (The Divine Ordeal) series, which meditates on the continued consequences of Angola’s civil war—particularly the effects of landmines and the struggle for healing.
Like other works in the series, #8 captures an interior space—typically a site of refuge or recovery, such as an orthopaedic clinic or a Catholic church—but notably devoid of people. The absence of human figures, along with the neutral lighting and muted color palette, creates a palpable sense of stillness and absence. It evokes enduring melancholy and restlessness, as these sites exist in a suspended state between hope and neglect.
By focusing on these emptied environments, Henda highlights the invisible scars of conflict—both physical and psychological—and the long, uncertain process of recovery. The image becomes a visual space of memory and contemplation, encouraging viewers to reflect on war’s lingering legacy and the complex path toward healing.
