The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Drawing of a soldier carrying pack and armed with rifle.
This work was created on Vykopal's second residency with NORFORCE, one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed to do surveillance and reconnaissance in remote Northern Australia. For this commission Vykopal walked alongside the men as an 'embedded' artist on three patrols across Arnhem land. It should be noted that NORFORCE is Australia's most racially integrated military contingent, with over 60% of the personnel of Aboriginal descent.
Vykopal's twenty works from this commission not only document the day-to-day activities of the personnel, but also the unique make-up of this unit. Some of the more unusual works also capture events from the Barunga festival in the Northern Territory where the artist saw the Darwin and Gove units performing military training drills. A number of the troops also performed in other dances, musical performances and competitions of which Vykopal felt compelled to draw.
Figure study of group of figures dancing. This work was created on Vykopal's second residency with NORFORCE, one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed to do surveillance and reconnaissa
Drawing of a soldier reclining with rifle cocked. This work was created on Vykopal's second residency with NORFORCE, one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed to do surveillance and rec
Portrait of the head of a soldier wearing a cap. This work was created on Vykopal's second residency with NORFORCE, one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed to do surveillance and reco
Side profile of soldier carrying pack holding rifle. This work was created on Vykopal's second residency with NORFORCE, one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed to do surveillance and
Drawing of a figure, in shadow, holding a rifle. This work was created on Vykopal's second residency with NORFORCE, one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed to do surveillance and rec
Study of a three figures with body paint. This work was created on Vykopal's second residency with NORFORCE, one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed to do surveillance and reconnaissa