Centurion tank

In his capacity as Official War Artist in Korea, Ivor Hele was 'requested to paint the men and machines of 77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force in Kimpo. This work shows Australian soldiers stripped to the waist struggling on a hillside with a centurion tank. A series of sketches show the care that Hele has taken in capturing accurate technical detail, which he then proceeded to break down, blending the men, machine and landscape into a powerful triangular composition. The rigour of the painting belies the careful planning, the step by step structural work which ensured a convincing relationship between the diverse pictorial elements. The difficulty he had in creating these works parallels the dogged efforts of the soldiers and airmen he depicts. Hele's Korean works have a nervous edgy quality and are powerful yet disturbing images of the Korean War.