this photographic exhibition serves to
acknowledge and recognise the valuable contribution of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and servicewomen
First Nations Australians have had a long and proud history of serving in the defence of our country from the frontier wars until today. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have served our nation for more than a century—from South Africa and Gallipoli, the trenches of Belgium and France, and the battlefields of Korea and Vietnam, to the rocky deserts of Afghanistan and on active operations and peacekeeping missions across the globe. Exact numbers are not known of how many First Nations Australian men and women served in the Australian defence forces, as official defence policy in the first half of the twentieth century was aimed at excluding the enlistment of persons “not substantially of European origin or descent”. That so many served at all at a time when they were denied the basic rights of citizenship is significant – a situation not fully corrected until the 1970s.
The ‘Serving Country’ photographic exhibition serves to acknowledge and honour the valuable contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and servicewomen who have served or who are serving in the Australian Defence Force. The exhibition serves as a platform for the sharing of stories, both inspiring and devastating. Uncle Roy Mundine (pictured) is the Australian Army’s inaugural Indigenous Elder, an exhibition participant, and a long-time supporter of the project. The exhibition continues to grow and now includes over 165 portraits on brushed steel panels, silk banners and 3D holographic lenticulars. The artists, Belinda Mason OAM and Dieter Knierim, have worked closely with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, City of Sydney, and Babana Men’s Group, travelling from Cairns to Perth, from Melbourne to Darwin, and to many small communities in between to photograph and record the narratives of over 400 participants for the project.
“Serving Country puts the spotlight on that significant contribution and will serve a dual role: a collection of art and a means of education for younger generations. It also highlights the power of art to open our minds and broaden our understanding. The portraits and narratives of First Nations servicemen and women provide a window to stories of mateship, sacrifice, courage and endurance. It is through seeking to learn that we can create better understandings of our shared history."
The Portraits and Stories
To see the portraits and read their stories, please visit:
The Serving Country Exhibition
The Serving Country Exhibition is both an online digital resource of over 400 images and a physical display of some 311 artworks in a variety of media.
Since its inception in 2014, the Serving Country artworks have been exhibited on more than 28 occasions in community, cultural, educational, veterans and Defence venues, from the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Phillip Island, Victoria, to the Tanks Art Centre in Cairns, Far North Queensland.
Currently, the Serving Country exhibition comprises the following artworks and is always expanding to meet the continuing demand from veterans and serving members to be included:
Serving Country Documentary 2022
Serving Country drone footage Darling Harbour 2023
Serving Country Interview Channel 7 2023
South Eveleigh, Sydney: May – July 2022
National Vietnam Veterans Museum, Phillip Island, VIC: Aug – Nov 2022
RM Williams Learning Centre, Eidsvold QLD: 2017
Tanks Art Centre, Cairns QLD: Dec – Jan 2022 – 23
Albury Library Museum, Albury NSW: Apr – Jul 2023
Southern Cross University, QLD: Jul – Aug 2023
Newcastle Regional Library, Lovett Gallery Newcastle NSW: 2018
Victoria Barracks, Paddington NSW: 2018
Redfern Community Centre, Redfern NSW: April 2016
Canberra Civic Library, Canberra ACT: 2017
Previous Serving Country Exhibition dates:
MUTTI creates multi-media exhibitions, including ‘Serving Country’, which provide personal insights into the lived experience of people who are impacted by multiple discriminations or disadvantages. Their stories challenge audiences to reconsider any prejudices and misconceptions they may have, and ask them to first discover what is similar and familiar, enabling them to better understand diversity and difference. We ask you to open your heart and your mind to the participants of these projects, as they have not only exposed their bodies by being photographed but also their souls by sharing with you their most intimate emotions and thoughts. The support and guidance of the participants of each exhibition have been critical to the integrity of the work.
If our mission resonates with you, there are ways to support our work and help us continue making a difference. Every gesture of generosity—big or small—helps us preserve stories, amplify voices, and promote inclusion for future generations.
Together, we can build a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
Donate Here
