George Gittoes as artist, interviewed by Ally Roche

George Gittoes identifies himself as a History Artist. This interview goes into detail about Gittoes’s life from when he was born, his upbringing, schooling, art practices, the setting up of the ‘Yellow House’ both in Sydney in 1969 which closed in 1971 and the reopening of it in Jalalabad, Afghanistan in 2011. Gittoes discusses the importance the Yellow House in Jalalabad from the perspective of creating art and film and also in helping underprivileged Afghan children. He also goes into detail about the Tora Bora Cinema Circus he has started which travels around Afghanistan. The interview also concentrates on the role he has played with the Military including Rwanda and current conflict and documenting this through his art. He discusses Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the screening of soldiers mental health before they deploy. Gittoes also discusses the films he has produced in Afghanistan and goes on to mention his current work of documenting the gangs of Chicago.