The Observers observed Accession Number: ART90368

Description

United Nations (UN) peacekeepers at the UN Observation post, OP 73, Golan Heights, looking towards Mt. Herman. The area depicted, looking towards the Israeli Early Warning Listening Stations, was one of the most sensitive areas in the Golan Heights. The Mt. Herman base is mainly composed of large geodesic domes. Gittoes accompanied the Australian peacekeeper Lt. Col. Tony Miles into this UNTSO region. In addition to Australia peacekeepers, Gittoes has depicted Israeli IDF members. The text accompanying this work notes; 'Apparently the Syrians captured these high tech bases during the last war and transported the top secret American equipment to Russia where it was carefully analaysed. The UNTSO officers live with the assumption that the Israelis on Mt. Herman can see and photograph the print in the letters they type... for the detail in this drawing I sketched the installation through a pair of rarely used binoculars into my note book... the large highly accurate binoculars are the Japanese government's contribution to UNTSO'. This drawing is the result of the Australian Army's sponsorship of Gittoes' travel to Western Sahara, Egypt, Israel, Jordon, Lebanon and Syria from January to March 1994 to cover peacekeeping activities and operations in these countries. Australian peacekeepers in Israel were involved in the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) operation.

Details

Accession Number
ART90368
Artist
George Noel Gittoes AM
Classification
Art
Object Type
Work on paper
Physical Description
Medium: pencil on paper
Measurement
Overall: 35.8 cm x 43.2 cm
Medium
pencil on paper
Date Made
1994
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Credit Line
Purchased 1994
Copyright
AWM Licensed copyright

Conflicts

Places

Units

Tags

Accession ART90368

More like this

UN bunker OP54, Golan Heights

Art ART90366 Period 1990-1999

Depicts a United Nations stone bunker, OP 54, in the Golan Heights, Israel. The bunker is set into the rocky landscape and terrain of this region . Gittoes travelled to Western Sahara, Egypt, Israel,

105-year-old woman, Southern Lebanon

Art ART90363 Period 1990-1999

Depicts an elderly Lebanese woman , wearing a head scarf, seated on a chair. Beside her is a crutch and she is seated against a crumbling stone wall, riddled with bullet holes. This drawing was execut

Mother and son Bethlehem Hospital

Art ART90369 Period 1990-1999

In text accompanying the drawing, Gittoes notes; 'the whole ward [in the hospital] felt neglected by the world. No one had visited them to get their account of events...the boy was about 15; his mothe

Matina Jewell: UN Patrol Base Khiam

Film F09038 United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) 1948 -

Series of short video clips filmed by Major Matina Jewell during the 2006 Lebanon War. Scenes include: Hezbollah rocket fire; Israeli aerial bombs and jets; Israeli artillery and Merkava tank fire; af

See more similar items →

Record information

Last modified: 13 August 2025 - 1.51 am