Street scene (soldiers in Baghdad) Accession Number: ART92781

Description

Depicts two uniformed soldiers in Iraq carrying a dead body through the streets of Baghdad. The painting, as a small vignette, is encircled by a black, blue and gold decorative frame derived from and influenced by the traditions of Afghan miniature painting. In 2004, in response to the 'wilful destruction of world heritage and religious buildings and the looting of museums during the invasion of Iraq', the artist, Elizabeth Ashburn began to study aspects of Middle Eastern culture. An artist, teacher, writer and academic, Ashburn is Emeritus Professor at the University of New South Wales (COFA). She attended an adult education course in miniature painting, conducted by the Afghan artist Abdul Karim Rahimi, an artist and academic who migrated to Australia in 1998. This painting combines delicate imagery derived from the tradition of central Asian miniature painting, with a small scene of the war in Iraq, contrasting the glorious heritage of Iraq with the ugly realities of everyday life in this country. Her work also provided a unique form of war documentation in 'the age of embedded journalism, selected briefings and non-stop cable TV', highlighting the global nature of contemporary warfare and the cultural impact of war in the twenty-first century.

Details

Accession Number
ART92781
Artist
Elizabeth Ashburn
Classification
Art
Object Type
Work on paper
Physical Description
Medium: watercolour, pencil on paper
Measurement
Overall: 16.2 cm x 14.2 cm
Medium
watercolour, pencil on paper
Date Made
2005
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Credit Line
Purchased 2005
Copyright
External copyright

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Accession ART92781

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Last modified: 1 May 2023 - 2.29 am