Alienation

Accession Number ART90128
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 41 x 29 cm (sight)
Object type Work on paper
Physical description brush and ink, gouache, metallic paint, pencil on paper
Maker Nolan, Dennis
Place made Australia: New South Wales
Date made 1992
Conflict Vietnam, 1962-1975
Copyright

Item copyright: Unlicensed copyright

Description

A distorted face wearing a grey hat. The face facing the front has only one eye, while the same face has two others attached to the left and right side. Strong contrast between shadows of white and grey and the faces causes further distortion to the figure.

Denis Nolan has recorded his interpretation of the work: "The painting has tried to capture all those emotions that we felt on our return home and up to when the painting was produced. The three images are representative of many things. A merry go round as thoughts go round and round in your head, were we right or were we wrong to be there. The raised part indicated one minute you're up the next you're down. The expressionless eyes are when your mind is back in the rain, mud, paddy fields, jungle and rubber plantations as when you are in company you only remember the good times it is when you are alone that those eyes can be seen and the bad memories return. The bush hat would be remembered by all who served in Vietnam. The eyes can also be interpreted as staring with hatred by those who thought we shouldn't be there and saw many of these on returning home from friends, mates and others (you joined the army! You volunteered! Are you stupid! Or just crazy!). As a regular soldier I volunteered to join the army and was sent to Vietnam. A reinforcement I never really bonded with those that went over as part of the unit. The feelings from above are indicated by the three parts; although one painting they are separate parts or pieces. They don't quite fit together. If you look deeply into this painting you can see a skull, the white section and dark nose, a bullet hole in the middle, the central eye and the blood red lips. This is the memory of the two we buried there. One on top of the other in one small grave. Hope whoever or whatever you believe in and their relateves forgive us."

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