AUSTRALIA 
Art from the line of fire on show
Wednesday, 9 July, 2008
The Mr Squiggle character made famous by artist Norman Hetherington. (AAP)
An art exhibition showcasing designs from war veterans has opened at the National Art School in Sydney.
The "Lines of Fire" exhibition brings together the work of some of the veterans who trained at the school in the aftermath of World War Two, many of whom when on to make significant contributions to Australian art.
The veterans, including Norman Hetherington, who later achieved fame as the much loved Mr Squiggle, benefited from the government’s post war training scheme which offered returned soldiers the chance to attend art school.
While images of war usually depict big heroic battle scenes, the journals, photos and sketches on show gave a personal insight into the daily lives of the service men and women during the Second World War.
“I think it keeps you sane, army life is full of hard work and busy work and sometimes you are frantic and sometimes you have nothing to do. There are times of extreme boredom. Most guys played card but cards always bored the hell out of me so I drew them playing cards,” veteran turned artist Guy Warren told SBS reporter Emma Hannigan.
Many of the artists had experiences as Prisoners of War and claim that art helped them through their time in captivity.
Source: SBS Staff
The "Lines of Fire" exhibition brings together the work of some of the veterans who trained at the school in the aftermath of World War Two, many of whom when on to make significant contributions to Australian art.
The veterans, including Norman Hetherington, who later achieved fame as the much loved Mr Squiggle, benefited from the government’s post war training scheme which offered returned soldiers the chance to attend art school.
While images of war usually depict big heroic battle scenes, the journals, photos and sketches on show gave a personal insight into the daily lives of the service men and women during the Second World War.
“I think it keeps you sane, army life is full of hard work and busy work and sometimes you are frantic and sometimes you have nothing to do. There are times of extreme boredom. Most guys played card but cards always bored the hell out of me so I drew them playing cards,” veteran turned artist Guy Warren told SBS reporter Emma Hannigan.
Many of the artists had experiences as Prisoners of War and claim that art helped them through their time in captivity.
Source: SBS Staff
