| Accession Number | AWM2020.205.40.296 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Art |
| Object type | Work on paper |
| Physical description | watercolour, gouache, pen and pencil on paper |
| Date made | 2011 |
| Conflict |
Afghanistan, 2001-2021 Iraq, 2003-2013 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright |
EOD member looses his shit
Description
Robert Cooper served in Afghanistan 2010-2011. He was deployed as an ASLAV gunner with 2 Cavalry Regiment as part of MTF-2 (Mentoring Task Force – Rotation 2), based in Uruzgan Province.
While on deployment, Cooper was able to sketch and write in his journal, and he also recorded footage of troop movements and the local Afghan people. Cooper was discharged in early 2011. Once home, he produced a sequenced set of 346 works on paper, referring back to the notes and footage he made in Afghanistan so that he could tell the story of his deployment with absolute accuracy. Cooper wanted to show people exactly what he had witnessed and experienced at war.
Text from book:
JAN 2011
"EOD MEMBER LOOSES HIS SHIT"
0530
TIME to GET UP AND PREPARE FOR ANOTHER
TASK - I AND TROOPER McMAHON ARE
EOD MEMBER BARNES
GETS UP AND GROWLS - THAT WE ARE
MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE
I SAID to HIM (EVEN THOUGH WE HAD to
GET UP ALSO)
"WELL GO BACK to BED THEN"
I THINK the STRESS OF DISARMING
IED'S IS BECOMING APPARENT....