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 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 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 350 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
We are open to invitations to display the work in the future should an opportunity arise that reflects the goal of the exhibition and the view of the participants. Here are the exhibition dates:
The Serving Country Documentary
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, to enable an ability 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.
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