By TANIA PHILLIPS
Pic 1. Ben Quilty Captain S, after Afghanistan painted in Robertson, New South Wales, 2012 oil on linen, 140 x 190 cm acquired under the official art scheme in 2012. ART94524
THE Australian War Memorial’s touring exhibition Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan, featuring works created by official war artist and Archibald Prize winner Ben Quilty, will be on display at Tweed River Art Gallery from 21 June – 29 September.
Gallery Director Susi Muddiman said it was a significant and relevant exhibition.
“We are so fortunate to be included in the tour of this challenging, and very moving, exhibition of works by Ben Quilty,” she said.
“Gallery staff and visitors have been anticipating the arrival of the exhibition for some time. The public may already be aware of the artist, as the paintings showcased in After Afghanistan were featured recently in two episodes of Australian Story on ABC television.”
Quilty was appointed as an official war artist by the Australian War Memorial in 2011, and deployed to Afghanistan from 11 October until 3 November. During this time he observed the Australians’ activities in Kabul, Kandahar and Tarin Kot.
His task was to record and interpret the experiences of Australian servicemen and women who are deployed as part of Operation Slipper.
Quilty says he was profoundly affected by his tour of Afghanistan. After spending more than three weeks talking to, and hearing about the experiences of, servicemen and women in Afghanistan, he felt an overwhelming need to tell their stories.
“Afghanistan is a very emotional place. It exposes the basics of humanity right there in your face: matters of life and death, the biggest themes an artist could ever imagine.
“I hope that when people walk into this exhibition they will get more of a sense of what it is like to be in Afghanistan. Not what it looks like, but what it feels like. What it is like to survive an experience such as these Australians have been through.”
The exhibition presents portraits of soldiers that Quilty met during his tour, including Air Commodore John Oddie, former Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East Area of Operations.
“Ben exposes the unvarnished, visceral experiences of military service and confronts the subject with previously deniable truths – a critical step to reintegrating with family and society,” said Oddie.
“By depicting through his art the raw emotion of military service, Ben is rekindling social understanding between the family, the warrior and a society that needs and wants to embrace the reality of military service.”
Ben Quilty: after Afghanistan showcases 21 studio paintings, along with 16 works on paper sketched by the artist during his tour of Afghanistan in 2011.
Quilty’s works continue a distinguished tradition of appointing official war artists, a practice established during World War I.
Friday 21 June exhibition launch After Afghanistan – free.
10.30am morning tea.
11am official exhibition launch: with Mayor Barry Longland and Australian War Memorial Curator, Laura Webster.
11.30am exhibition floortalk with Laura Webster. Learn about the AWM Official War Art Scheme and the training undertaken by artists before they leave Australian shores.
RSVP TUESDAY 18 June phone (02) 6670 2790 or email tweedart@tweed.nsw.gov.au
Friday 12 July special event ‘In Conversation: After Afghanistan’ – $30.
6-8pm Susi Muddiman talks to Captain ‘S’.
Join Gallery Director, Susi Muddiman and Special Forces soldier, and subject of Ben Quilty’s portrait Captain S, after Afghanistan, as they discuss the Captain’s experiences working with Ben Quilty in Afghanistan and in the artist’s Robertson studio on his return from duty.
RSVP Tuesday 9 July with payment.
