Critical Witness: Official war artists after 1999

The Official War Art Scheme was initiated during the First World War and is one of the longest-running art commissioning programs in Australia. Since 1999, official war artists have deployed internationally and within Australia to “observe, record and interpret” the activities of the Australian Defence Force.

Official war artists are critical witnesses to contemporary conflict and the experience of Australian service personnel. They embed with Australian forces in dangerous and charged environments, recording the dramatic and violent, as well as the routine and cultural aspects of military operations.

This exhibition presents work by official war artists since 1999, including Tony Albert (Girramay/Kuku Yalanji peoples), Rick Amor, Lyndell Brown and Charles Green, Jon Cattapan, Peter Churcher, Shaun Gladwell, Susan Norrie, eX de Medici, Lewis Miller, Ben Quilty, Wendy Sharpe and Alick Tipoti (Kala Lagaw Ya people).

Critical Witness: Official war artists after 1999 is located on the lower level.