April 24, 2013
South Burnett artist Lee Porter has painted a special picture to commemorate Anzac Day.
The painting – “What’s Left Behind?” – came out of research the Murgon-based artist recently carried out on Gallipoli.
“While I was studying the Gallipoli campaign through books, the internet and watching films, there were a few fleeting seconds in one film I saw where the camera moved across sandbags to where some men were talking.
“I noticed the knives in the sandbags and memorabilia hanging from them, and found this to be a very powerful image of what took place in the trenches,” Lee said.
“As I thought about it I started to wonder what made these men leave behind their precious possessions? Was it because they knew they might not make it back? Perhaps they didn’t want their precious memories to fall into the hands of the enemy? Or was it placed there as an incentive to return to the trenches?
“And what happened to these items if they didn’t return?”
Lee said the images of knives stuck into trench sandbags made such a deep impression on her that eventually she had to paint it.
“I found this painting to be the most emotional work I’ve ever done,” she said.
“Often I had to wipe away tears as I worked.
“As I painted each knife, I could feel the emotion of the men and the sense of fear mixed with love they would have felt as they placed mementos of home over their knife.”
Lee said the knife in the centre of the painting isn’t smooth but has been given a deliberately rippled effect to reflect the emotions being imprinted in the handle.
“I hope I’ve been able to capture the personal and emotional impact of the Gallipoli campaign,” she said.
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- A Spirit Of Self-Sacrifice – Anzac Day 2013 Wondai
- Crowd Turns Out For Parade – Anzac Day 2013 Murgon
- Muster Pauses To Remember – Anzac Day 2013 Boondooma
