Hi team
It's Paula from the RSL here. I can't wait for our trip to Darwin next month - so close!
If you have time, it would be worthwhile checking out the Fringe show Defending the Arts. It's an exhibition by serving members of the Army, Navy and Airforce. It shows a selection of contemporary artworks across various media – painting, drawing, sculpture, video and audio, to tell stories, share experience, invoke emotion, reflection and contemplation.
It's at Torrens Parade Ground, free, and runs until 10 March 2022.
Click here for Defending the Arts Fringe page
It would be wonderful if you shared what you think in the comments section of this blog!
Below are some thoughts to help you reflect on the art and what it may mean to serve today. I personally reflect on how service has changed since the Darwin bombing. Did you know that its been less than ten years since all military roles have been open to women and only 30 years since LGBTQI+ community were allowed to serve? And despite our Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders (ATSI) having served since WWI, they were only begrudgingly accepted in WWII, with preference for those of "mostly European descent." After service, most ATSI veterans were not given the same benefits as white service personnel such as housing and land.
The reason these discriminations existed was the assumption that having people who were "different" would make the fighting men "uncomfortable." How things have changed! Although there are still lingering challenges, the ADF of today celebrates diversity and considers it critical to Defence capability.
What do you know about military people? In Australia, the military (the Australian Defence Force) isn’t very visible in the community – except maybe when it’s doing jobs that help the community, like, floods, bushfires and COVID. You might see them on Anzac Day, but what do you know about what they do every day?
Let’s look at some of the art works:
1. Look at ‘Moments from Disaster’ by Jess Haines-Hann. The main characteristic of these paintings is juxtaposition: the artists juxtaposes a weapon (a hand grenade, which is a small bomb), with everyday objects: pastels, lollies and flowers. By putting these two objects together, do you think it makes the grenade look less dangerous, or the everyday objects more threatening? Can the two images exist in the same environment? How does this combination make you feel? The artist talks about ‘imposter syndrome’. What do you understand this to be?
2. Listen to Kath Callow’s radio play ‘Grounded’. This play is about the first female commercial pilot in Queensland. The play is set in 1968. What do you think might have changed for women in traditional male jobs since then? What do you think might not have changed? What might be attractive/not attractive for women to join a military force? (Note, this play is 33 mins in duration. You might want to listen to it before or after the exhibition here: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/cqtcZpekNX3SDefk8)
3. Walk around Richard Barrett’s sculpture ‘Homo ex Machina’. This cube has a pattern cut into it which is actually a code. Do you know what code it is? The code translates to the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Why would military people be concerned with human rights?
4. Read Nathan Phillips experimental fiction piece called ‘Indecision’. This piece is made up of many different canvases. Why is it fragmented, do you think? Why is it written from different voices? (Note, this work discusses suicide and drug use. You may wish to view it here first: https://nathanjphillipswrites.com/2019/07/05/indecision/)
5. Watch Sam Baker’s film ‘The Sea’. How does this piece make you feel? How is it different from other works you have seen at this exhibition? The artist talks about the connection with his grandfather. Why do you think family history may be important to military members?
6. Compare David Ehsman’s pieces, ‘Merging Fabric’ (spray paint on canvas) and ‘Fight Through’ (freeform 3D printer pen). Although these are made with different materials and using different methods, can you see any similarities? What are they? The artist says ‘Fight Through’ represents ‘a captured moment of movement’ and ‘exhaustion’ at the same time. Have you ever felt like this?
Think about what you have seen in the exhibition. How many pieces are happy, and how many are sad or angry? How many women artists are shown, and what did you expect? What are the main themes that come out of the art works? What is your favourite piece? What did you find was the most confronting? What did you learn about military people that you didn’t know before?
Write some words that represent the military to you. Now write down the themes in this exhibition. What do you think are the connections?
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