Images of the Crisis: Painted memories from Bougainville
A collection of paintings from a Papua New Guinea Red Cross, International Committee of the Red Cross and University of Papua New Guinea facilitated art project are currently being exhibited at the Queensland Art Gallery.
Over a decade ago Bougainville was shaken by a devastating 10-year conflict between the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army. The crisis destroyed lives and livelihoods, damaging land, property and belongings - leaving many people with only memories of life before the crisis.
In 2012 the Papua New Guinea Red Cross, the University of Papua New Guinea and the International Committee of the Red Cross came together to facilitate the Bougainville Art Project. Designed to offer over 140 participants from Bougainville a platform to creatively share their memories, experiences and reflections on this part of Bougainville's history.
Today the art created from this project is being exhibited at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) as part of the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT9). These artworks provide a rare glimpse into the artist's memories of the crisis as well as their hopes for the future.
