Japanese POW, Bougainville

Portrait of Japanese prisoner of war, made after the Japanese surrender. The Japanese gradually emerged from different parts of the Bougainville jungle and surrendered to the Australian forces. The were put to work as labourers. Despite being forbidden from fraternising with the Japanese, Warren was able to take some prisoners aside and draw them. Without speaking the other's language, somehow the artist was able to convey to his sitters that he wanted them to sign their name on the portraits that he made of them. Warren had the names translated after the war. He says, "Given the reverse situation, I suspect that most Australian soldiers would have written Ned Kelly, or something obscene. I often wonder where these Japanese soldiers are now and if they are still alive." (Source: Norbert Lynton and John McDonald, 'Searching for Gaia: the art of Guy Warren', Macmillan Art Publishing, Victoria, 2003, p.139)