ARTIST Ben Quilty and the Australian War Memorial are donating to the charity ‘Soldier On’ the proceeds of limited edition prints of some of Quilty’s artworks from Afghanistan.
Dr Brendan Nelson with Quilty’s “Trooper Luke Korman,” in foreground, photo Kerry Alchin
The Australian War Memorial commissioned the award-winning Quilty as an official war artist in Afghanistan in 2011 to interpret the experiences of Australian Defence Force personnel.
The prints are part of his work currently touring Australia in the show “Ben Quilty: after Afghanistan”.
The limited edition print, titled “Trooper Luke Korman,” is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and is signed by Quilty, the director of the Memorial, Brendan Nelson, and by the soldier depicted in the painting, Trooper Luke Korman.
The artwork “Captain S after Afghanistan,” is available as a poster only.
The prints depict Quilty’s use of symbols to represent the emotional weight and the sense of emptiness he felt some soldiers brought home with them after serving in Afghanistan.
“I had such extreme feelings about the smell, sound, emotions of being in Afghanistan. I wanted to convey this in my artworks,” Ben Quilty said.
The CEO of Soldier On, John Bale, says,“Ben Quilty’s artwork captures a side to Australia’s servicemen and women that isn’t often exposed. His ability to share the stories of our wounded is both effective and emotive, allowing people of different backgrounds to understand the struggles they face.
At Quilty’s request the War Memorial is coordinating the printing and sale of the prints, with proceeds from the sales being donated to the organisation Soldier On.
Purchasing inquiries can be directed to esales@awm.gov.au, or purchase can be made in-shop or at awm.gov.au/shop
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