Veterans gather for art
USQ’s latest exhibition focus’ on WWI photograhs
WORLD War Two veteran George Gnezdillff and Vietnam veteran Ian Lade have been immortalised in a piece of art on display at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery.
The two veterans, from Proserpine, were photographed as part of an art project by University of Southern Queensland student Anne Smith.
“Anne Smith, the photographer, wanted to find some veterans and my wife works at the museum in Prosperine and was asked if she knew any veterans who would be in a photograph,” Mr Lade said.
“She explained her idea to me, I asked George to be in it and then we went and took many shots.
“My grandson was in the photo and he’s nursing a replica of (World War One sniper) Billy Sing’s medals. My dog was there too.”
Mr Lade said it was quite overwhelming to see the large photograph, which features photos by Australian war photograph Frank Hurely superimposed on to the image.
“The Australian flag in the photo, that’s my flag flying from my front yard,” he said.
“I said we can’t take a photo like this without the Australian flag in it.”
Mr Gnezdillff, who has a passion for photography, said he thoroughly enjoyed coming down to Toowoomba to see the photograph, which was printed on metallic paper.
Anne Smith was just one of eight artists who had her work on display as part of the Landscape and Memory: Frank Hurley and a nation imagined at the art gallery.
Exhibition co-curator Dr Martin Kerby said eight artists had been given the task to reimagine iconic Frank Hurley images.
“Hurley’s work is one of the dominant means in which Australians traditionally imagine the western front,” Dr Kerby said.
The Landscape and Memory: Frank Hurley and a nation imagined exhibition is on at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery until September 2.