First day of war - 1-17

What forms of remembrance are appropriate for a tragic past? The project First Day of War offers an intimate view into the practice of military reenactment, revealing how historical trauma is often reimagined through staged emotional experiences, a kind of “simulation of grief.”

In place of sites of loss, contemporary commemorations increasingly feature concert programs, ceremonial events, and official delegations. These formats have become firmly embedded in the structure of urban public life.