| Accession Number | AWM2019.1194.1 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Framed: 60 cm x 60 cm x 3 cm x 5 kg |
| Object type | Photograph |
| Physical description | photograph |
| Maker |
Traill, Gordon |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne |
| Date made | 2018-10-23 |
| Conflict |
Period 2010-2019 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright |
Unconquered courage
Description
As part of being exhibited in the 2019 Napier Waller Art Prize exhibition, Gordon Traill provided the following artist statement about his work:
"'Unconquered courage' was taken at the Invictus Games held in Sydney in 2018. The image captures a competitor from the United Kingdom participating in the swimming heats. This image has been described as powerful or haunting, as we see his legs left at the side of the pool as he prepares to compete. He is unconquered. The artwork on his back tells the story of where he has been. The captured image tells the story of his courage and where he is going. Just as sport is a healing tool for the competitors of the Invictus Games, I am also unconquered by war and use my photography as a healing tool. Instead of PTSD, I now call it “post-traumatic growth” (Traill, 2019).
'Unconquered courage' was judged highly commended as part of the Memorial's 2019 Napier Waller Art Prize. Presented in partnership with Thales Australia, the University of Canberra, The Road Home, and the Department of Veteran's Affairs (DVA), the Napier Waller Art Prize aims to promote artistic excellence, the healing potential of art for military personnel, and raise a broader awareness of the impact of service on the individual. In its second year, the Napier Waller Art Prize attracted over 110 entries.