Veterans’ stories depicted in Australian War Memorial exhibition
Date published: 15 October 2015
Artworks by official war artist and Archibald prize winner Ben Quilty, will open at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery tomorrow, Friday 16.
Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan will be officially opened by Dr Brendan Nelson, director of the Australian War Memorial.
The exhibition was the result of Mr Quilty’s three-week tour across Afghanistan in October 2011.
Engaged as an official war artist, his purpose was to record and interpret the experiences of Australians deployed as part of Operation Slipper in Kabul, Kandahar, Tarin Kot in Afghanistan and at Al Minhad Airbase in the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Quilty spoke with many Australian servicemen and women, gaining an insight into their experiences while serving in the region, and ultimately leaving with an overwhelming need to tell their stories.
Community and Cultural Committee Chair Cr Sue Blom said the exhibition was particularly pertinent this week, as it was Veterans’ Health Weekend this weekend.
"I encourage all Townsville residents to come and see this exhibition whether you are a school student interested in art or history, a current or past service man or woman; or just an interested member of the public," she said.
Manager Gallery Services Shane Fitzgerald agreed the exhibition was a must-see as Mr Quilty was arguably one of Australia’s greatest living painters.
"This exhibition, with its intense and emotional subject matter is particularly important to Townsville, a garrison city," he said.
The exhibition has been very well received across the country with more than 70,000 visitors attending the works when on display most recently in Darwin.
Australian War Memorial director Dr Brendan Nelson said Mr Quilty should be considered one Australia’s great official war artists.
"Ben Quilty’s works follow a truly great tradition at the Australian War Memorial of appointing artists to record and interpret the Australian experience of war," he said.
"Ben brought to this task all his brilliance, sensitivity and compassion. The works he produced will leave Australians a legacy which informs them not only about the impact of war on our country, but even more importantly, about the effects on the men and women he has depicted."
Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan is on display at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery from 16 October until 29 November 2015.
