Heal Thyself

As part of being exhibited for the inaugural Napier Waller Art Prize exhibition (2018), Pronk provided the following artist statement about his work:

"My brother was a special forces doctor who completed multiple combat tours to Afghanistan. I captured the reference image for this work at the end of a long night reflecting on our shared experiences downrange. I’d found it fascinating hearing him talk about administering trauma medicine and participating in combat – sometimes simultaneously – and wanted to include the hand that had both applied tourniquets and pulled triggers.

"My brother saved a lot of lives in Afghanistan, but he was haunted by the few that he couldn’t. He recalls performing CPR on one of his mates in the back of a helicopter for 45 minutes as they sped towards a surgical facility. Upon arrival, he collapsed out of the aircraft, exhausted and locked into the foetal position with back spasms and cramps. It was in this position – in a ball on the flightline – that the surgical team found him to tell him that his mate had died on the operating table.

"Since then, however, he has used his experiences to grow and to help others. This work is a tribute to his strength and positivity; it’s my way of telling him how incredibly proud I am of him." (Ben Pronk, 2018)

'Heal thyself' by artist and veteran Benjamin Pronk was judged highly commended as part of the Memorial's 2018 Napier Waller Art Prize. Presented in partnership with Thales Australia, the University of Canberra and The Road Home, the Napier Waller Art Prize aims to promote artistic excellence, the healing potential of art for military personnel, and raise a broader awareness of the impact of service on the individual. In it's inaugural year, the Napier Waller Art Prize attracted over 100 entries.