Eyes of the Damned

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

"'Eyes of the damned' is a self-portrait and an attempt to visualise the artist’s 15-year struggle with PTSD and depression after having been on operations in East Timor. It was produced during the artist’s third major breakdown as a result of this condition. The work was developed from a photograph taken by the artist of himself. It attempts to externalise, by the colour and compositional choice, the thoughts and feeling of the subject in the dark places of the “Black Dog”. If the eyes are the window to the soul (Matthew 6, 22-23, or Cicero) then these are the eyes of the damned: damned by the conditions of PTSD, depression, the willingness and desire to take another person’s life. How none of these things fit in civilised places. PTSD and depression don’t fit in the military or civilian worlds. The willingness, desire and ability to take life don’t fit in the civilian world. Damned to journey on through life isolated from the norms of life and burdened by their service. A life understood only by those brothers by choice who they served with." (James Farquharson, 2018)

'Eyes of the damned' by artist and veteran James Farquharson 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 its inaugural year, the Napier Waller Art Prize attracted over 100 entries.