Australia/NZ Print Portfolio Commemorates FWW Centenary

The Australian War Memorial has announced a major new collaborative artistic commission with New Zealand to commemorate the Centenary of the First World War.

The Commemorative Print Portfolio will feature work by five Australian and five New Zealand artists, who will respond creatively to the history of the First World War and its legacy for contemporary life in both countries.

The Portfolio also aims to survey contemporary artistic approaches to commemoration as part of the trans-national commemorative exchange.  The commissioned artists are: Daniel Boyd (Aust), Megan Cope (Aust), Shane Cotton (NZ), Brett Graham (NZ), Fiona Jack (NZ), Helen Johnson (Aust), Mike Parr (Aust), John Reynolds (NZ), Sangeeta Sandrasegar (Aust) and Sriwanha Spong (NZ).

The Memorial’s Head of Art, Ryan Johnston, welcomed the Print Portfolio project as a major Anzac initiative between the two countries.

“The commemorative print portfolio will provide a diverse and unique insight into a key chapter in Australian and New Zealand history, while at the same time tracing the powerful resonance of this history into the present day,” Mr Johnston said.

“Throughout 2014 and 2015, each artist will travel to Canberra for a residency at the Megalo Print Studios, where they will produce their work under the technical oversight of Master Printmaker John Loane.

“Megalo is looking forward to having the selected artists working in the studios” said Megalo Acting Director, Megan Jackson. “This project is a great opportunity for all involved - the artists, printers and our respective organisations.”

The Australian artist, Megan Cope, is currently in Canberra working on her print. The print will explore the service of Megan’s great great uncle Richard Martin an Indigenous Australian who served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.

The entire Portfolio will be officially launched upon completion in late 2015.