Yes Sir

This work was carved whilst the Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack was an internee in Australia. Born in Germany in 1893, after the First World War the artist studied at the progressive art and design school, the Bauhaus. His maternal grandmother was Jewish so in 1936 and sought assylum in England with one of his daughters. After the Second World War was declared he was interned on the Isle of Man on 12 May 1940 as an enemy alien. In August of that year, Hirschfeld-Mack was then sent to Australia on board the 'Dunera' and arrived in Melbourne, Australia on 3 December. He was first sent to the internment camp at Hay then moved to Orange in New South Wales; and later moved to Tatura, Victoria. He was released from detention in April 1942 through the intercessions of the Principal of the Geelong Grammar School, Corio, Victoria where the artist was appointed as the art master The carved wooden sculpture depicts an internee in camp, a large figure standing to attention and towering above a cluster of huts enclosed by a barbed wire fence. The words 'Yes, Sir!' are carved into the base of the work.