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CHARLES TAYLOR BECOMES INTERIOR DESIGNER; SAYS HUMAN SKULLS ARE IN

July 24 2009

The Hague, Netherlands – For as long as governments have existed there has been rebellion and revolution. The people who have led those rebellions have often been regarded as both saints and villains. People such as Ghandi and Spartacus often occupy the same world as the Bolsheviks and Idi Amin, demons to some and angels
to others. Throughout Africa rebellion has been an almost standard form of government for decades with governments regularly falling and war second nature for most of the people throughout the continent.

That constant state of rebellion though has made it increasingly difficult for warlords and tyrants to maintain power for extended periods of time. Although some throughout Africa have been able to retain power for decades others have had a more difficult time staying in power, regaining control, or finding new work after their time is up. Such was the case for Charles Taylor who is currently facing criminal prosecution for war crimes. His rule over Liberia – from 1997 to 2003 – was regarded as one of the most brutal and corrupt in African history. Since losing power though Taylor has found himself largely without direction, that was until he found his panache for interior design.

“Skulls were used as symbols of death. These were not our people. Enemy soldiers had been killed and their skulls were used. We did not think that symbol was anything wrong. I did not order them removed,” said Taylor to Hague judges. “Skulls are a very underrated element of design. They were always something that intrigued me though I could not put into words what it was that intrigued me about them. We stacked them to frighten our enemies but I could feel even then there was another reason. These last six years have given me a great deal of time to contemplate my life and I have realized that design is my true passion. I firmly believe that human skulls are a beautiful expression that gives balance to any design space.”

Taylor did also state that the use of human entrails and other disembowelment procedures employed under his rule were not sanctioned, were punished, and are not a part of his overall design philosophy. Because of an expected guilty verdict in the trials and the relatively high profile of Taylor it is believed unlikely that he will enter the world of design. His age, 61, is also cited as a major obstacle to success in the youth oriented field.

“Life can be a funny thing sometimes. You think you know exactly what you want and
you pursue it with vigour but something comes up, some kind of obstacle presents
itself and you realize that things aren’t exactly as you had thought they were or would be. That forces you to reassess the way you’ve been doing things and can open up all kinds of new options you never thought existed,” said Scrape TV Psychology analyst Dr. Sarah Welp. “I’m sure that design was always something below the surface for Taylor whether it is expressed in hanging paintings or stacking skulls. Likely that has always been a part of the way he has done things and it’s only now with so much solitude and time to contemplate that he has fully realized what has always been lying beneath the surface.”

Political rebellion and revolution have long been a part of Taylor’s life starting in early 1979. He also earned a degree in economics Bentley College though like many graduates did not pursue that field.

“People often come out of college fresh and eager and confused. More often than not graduation can bring questions and concerns and restlessness that many graduates
never even considered they would have. Some people travel to shake themselves of
that feeling and others just plunge headlong into work. Frequently though what a person goes to University for doesn’t end up being their career, much like it was for Taylor,” continued Welp. “I’m sure it is a little upsetting coming into one’s own at such an advanced age and with the spectre of lifelong imprisonment hanging over one’s head. I’m sure there are more than a few moments when he wishes he could turn back the clock and forgo revolution and mass murder and just design patios and living rooms but unfortunately life just doesn’t work that way. It’s a shame for us as well, that we lost such potential in the design world. Gaining a blood thirsty tyrant just doesn’t make up for it unfortunately.”

Taylor also stated that he believed other human bones would quickly come into fashion in the coming years. No designers we spoke to have begun integrating human body parts into their designs as yet.     

Emil Uliya, International Correspondent

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