Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan tours to Townsville from the Australian War Memorial

Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan is an extraordinary Australian War Memorial Touring Exhibition by one of the nation’s most incisive artists, and is of great relevance to the Townsville community, as it is to all Australians. The exhibition officially opens at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in Townsville at 6:30pm on Friday 16 October and will be launched by Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial.

The exhibition itself was the result of the Archibald Prize-winning artist’s three-week tour across Afghanistan in October 2011. Engaged as an Official War Artist, his purpose was to record and interpret the experiences of Australians deployed as part of Operation Slipper in Kabul, Kandahar, and Tarin Kot in Afghanistan and at Al Minhad Airbase in the United Arab Emirates. In fulfilling his brief, Quilty spoke with many Australian servicemen and women, gaining an insight into their experiences whilst serving in the region, and ultimately leaving with an overwhelming need to tell their stories.

Quilty recently spoke on ANZAC Day 2015 and paid tribute not only to those who did not return from Afghanistan and their grieving families, but also to “the young men and women who live amongst us who have paid so dearly and will quietly wear the thick cloak of trauma for many years to come, after Afghanistan.”

Shane Fitzgerald, Manager Gallery Services, said the exhibition is a must see as Quilty is arguably one of Australia’s greatest living painters, and this exhibition, with its intense and emotional subject matter is particularly important to Townsville, a garrison city.

The exhibition has been very well received across the country with over 70,000 visitors attending the works when on display most recently in Darwin. Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial believes Quilty should be considered one Australia’s great official war artists.

“Ben Quilty’s works follow a truly great tradition at the Australian War Memorial of appointing artists to record and interpret the Australian experience of war.”

“Ben brought to this task all his brilliance, sensitivity and compassion. The works he produced will leave Australians a legacy which informs them not only about the impact of war on our country, but even more importantly, about the effects on the men and women he has depicted,” said Dr Nelson.

Community and Cultural Committee Chair, Cr. Sue Blom, said the exhibition, “was particularly pertinent this week being that it was Veterans’ Health Weekend.”

“I encourage all Townsville residents to come and see this exhibition whether you are a school student interested in art or history, a current or past service man or woman; or just an interested member of the public.”

Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan is on display at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery from 16 October until 29 November 2015.

Image: Ben Quilty Trooper Luke Korman, after Afghanistan  2012, aerosol and oil on linen, 190 x 140 cm ART94526