The 2022 Gallipoli Art Prize In Review.
In an obscure cove, on an unknown beach, in a foreign land far-far away, on the morning of the 25thApril 1915 our national identity was forged in blood.
The legend of the ANZAC was born on this day, and it is arguably our most important and sacred day of remembrance.
This spirit was reaffirmed in the continued eight months’ fighting on the Gallipoli peninsula. Although arguably a military disaster, the Australians displayed great courage, endurance, initiative, discipline, and mateship. These qualities came to shape the Anzac spirit as we know it today.
The story of the Gallipoli landing not just inspired the legend of Anzac, but it still remains central to many Australians’ self-image.
Background
Before the war a largely urbanised and newly federated nation had looked to its rural environment for its national character. The “bushmen”, and their women, were seen to possess hardiness, democratic spirit, mateship, and resourcefulness.
In 1914, most Australians had high hopes that their soldiers’ would prove the nation’s worth. These hopes were realised in the colourful descriptions of their men in action following the landing at Gallipoli. The bushmen’s perceived characteristics were now applied, along with dash and courage in battle, to the Anzac stereotype. These were soon extended to those who served on the Western front, where the term “digger” was also born and used to describe our Australian soldiers’.
The mettle that a race can show
Is proved with shot and steel,
And now we know what nations know
And feel what nations feel.
A.B. “Banjo” Paterson
I had the pleasure of attending the Gallipoli art prize this past Wednesday. The Gallipoli Art Prize is a privately funded prize (auspiced by the Gallipoli Memorial Club in Sydney). It invites artists to respond openly to the broad themes of loyalty, respect, love of country, courage and comradeship as expressed in the Gallipoli Club’s creed.
“We believe that within the community there exists an obligation for all to preserve the special qualities of loyalty, respect, love of country, courage and comradeship which were personified by the heroes of the Gallipoli Campaign and bequeathed to all humanity as a foundation for perpetual peace and universal freedom”. The Gallipoli Memorial Club Creed.
The concept of conducting art prize competitions in both Australia and Turkey to commemorate the legacy of those heroes who fought on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915 was conceived in 2004 and developed during 2004-2005.
The first official announcement of this project was made on 15 April 2005 by the then Prime Minister of Australia, (the Honourable John Howard MP), of the intention to conduct the art prize competitions in Australia and Turkey. It has been conducted annually ever since.
The winner this year was Deirdre Bean with her painting ‘Along the ride to Damascus’ featuring a sword used by Australian Light Horse battalions in WWI. Bean’s winning work is intricately rendered in oil paint on canvas using ultra-fine brushes. The sword, scabbard and leather-bound ‘swagger stick’ featured in the painting belong to a private collector who loaned the items to Deirdre Bean so she could draw and paint them from life. (the $20,000 acquisitive prize auspiced by the Gallipoli Memorial Club)
Deirdre Bean said: “It has been my art practice in recent years to rediscover items such as these: precious, meaningful items that are locked away and in danger of being forgotten”.
She went on: “My ambition is to ‘re-love’ them by bringing them briefly into the light and, with careful handling, reimagine them in paint on canvas. This sword now has a new alternative life. The stories it evokes are retold, conversations are had, and information shared. We remember, lest we forget”.
Artist Geoff Harvey received a Highly Commended award with his work ‘Lest We Forget (4 seasons)’. He said: “The lists of brave men who have paid the ultimate sacrifice are in scripted on the bollards of all War Memorials throughout Australia. With soldiers above standing sombre, silent & respectfully as they reflect on the passages of time and the years of life they were denied. Deeply etched on their faces are the ravages of this time. These stone warriors are fading & their memories are becoming distant in the shadows of grief forgotten. The seasons come & the seasons go, as the years pass but these statues continue to hold their posts steadfast & reliable as silent centennials of remembrance in an ever-changing landscape. Lest We Forget.”
The quality of the entries was superb. Among the 30 finalist works this year is Turkish born artist Kevser Ugurlu with her work ‘Restless Hope Syndrome’ inspired by a visit to the War Memorial in Canberra. In her artist statement Ugurlu say: ‘I found myself for the first time on the side of the ‘enemy’ as a Turkish citizen. I felt deeply the grief, and broken lives on both sides of war as a commonality that traverses across borders and continues in ongoing conflicts that create displacement.’
There were many other fine works that made up the body of the rest of the exhibition. They truly reflect the spirit of Gallipoli and the foundation of the legacy that the Anzac spirit has left us with.
I urge you as part of your Anzac Day remembrance tribute to visit the exhibition. The works will be on exhibition at The Cleland Bond Store, 33 Playfair St, The Rocks, Sydney from 21st April to 8th May, 2022.
