Accession Number | P11527.058 |
---|---|
Collection type | Photograph |
Object type | Digital file |
Maker |
eX de Medici |
Place made | Pacific Islands: Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Honiara |
Date made | March 2009 |
Conflict |
Solomon Islands (RAMSI), 2003-2013 |
Copyright |
Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright |
Private (Pte) Thomas Oliver (Mel) Melick (foreground), an unidentified soldier (centre) and ...
Private (Pte) Thomas Oliver (Mel) Melick (foreground), an unidentified soldier (centre) and Corporal (Cpl) Thomas (Tom) Vojteck Elias (background), 22 Charlie, on board a Bell 412 helicopter leaving Henderson Airport to fly to Malaita island, RAMSI regularly conduct patrols of the island. Pte Melick and Cpl Tom are incorporated into the artwork 'Malaita Patrol leaving Henderson Airport' [ART94154]. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with troops from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga formed the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The RAMSI peacekeeping mission has been present in the Solomon Islands since 2003. eX de Medici was sent to the Solomon Islands in March 2009 as an Australian War Memorial official artists during one of the wettest weeks of the year. Continual downpour restricted her ability to paint or sketch on site. De Medici relied on journal records and hundreds of photographs of her observations and experiences to produce her artwork. Stitching together elements from numerous photographs, de Medici created a series of artworks that does not reflect a particular location, instead merges historical and contemporary motifs revealing the uncertain future of the Solomon Islands.