And the rivers still flow towards an open sea: Korean Camo

Place Asia: Korea
Accession Number AWM2019.215.2.5
Collection type Art
Object type Photograph
Physical description Photography; digital pigment print on archival rag photographique paper
Maker Grant, Lee
Place made Australia: Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Korea: Demilitarized Zone
Date made 2019
Copyright

Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright

Description

Artist Lee Grant photographed this example of early military camouflage (most likely from the 1950s) painted on the wall of a military regiment in the Demilitarized Zone, South Korea, in 2018 during a research residency. She explored the ongoing military presence and historic legacy of the Korean War. The photograph is part of the series "And the rivers still flow towards an open sea"; one of two that comprise "Mnemosyne" by artist Lee Grant, responding the history and legacy of the Korean War shared between the Republic of Korea and Australia.

Grant was selected by the Australian War Memorial as the Australian artist for the inaugural artist residency exchange project with the Republic of Korea. (Taedong Kim was the Korean artist, he spent a month based at the Australian War Memorial.) Grant travelled to Korea to research the history and legacy of the conflict. She visited historic sites and met with current and former service personnel and civilians who lived through the war. She then undertook research at the Australian War Memorial and met with Australian veterans. "Mnemosyne" includes two series of photographs, "Towards a field of sleep" and "And the rivers still flow towards an open sea". Grant's own photographs are complemented with archival photograph's from the Memorial collection. Mnemosyne is the name of the ancient Green goddess of memory and remembrance.

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