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NEWS

Australian War Memorial Acquisition
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It is with great pleasure and honour that I am announcing the acquisition by the Australian War Memorial of The Handkerchief Project (Making Marks) artworks for its Afghanistan collection.

 

The Australian War Memorial was historically a museum restricted to memorialising largely military personnel through artefacts, artworks and experiences related to the armed forces.

While the AWM states its purpose is to commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who have died in war, referring mostly to the armed forces and medical personnel, its current approach, supported by its contemporary curators, is to exhibit and archive narratives and artworks that will “assist Australians to remember, interpret and understand the Australian experience of war and its enduring impact on Australian society”. https://www.awm.gov.au/about/organisation

 

As a country whose military was significantly involved in the Afghanistan conflicts over the past 20 years, it is necessary for the public to reflect on the repercussions of that involvement on both Afghans and Australians.

 

We see our Handkerchief Project (Making Marks) and its artworks as a living testament to the connections made between civilian women in Australia and Afghanistan, and the humanity of each, as well as to a desire to keep memory and knowledge alive. It voices a shared cry for peace.

 

We believe the project is a breakthrough addition to the AWM as it presents such a large collection of women’s perspectives – non-military perspectives – and the creativity of collective purpose through individual voices.

Making Marks the EXHIBITION is going LIVE in 2021! 

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at the COUNIHAN GALLERY IN BRUNSWICK, VIC
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exhibition dates: 6 Feb to 21 March 2021
artist talk: 6 March 2021 TBC
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Image: Heather Shimmen & Afghan woman

My wish is for peace in my country, 2018 (detail).

Linocut print, thread, solvent transfer, watercolour & embroidery cotton.

42 x 42 cm.                                 

Image courtesy of the artists

Heather Shimmen and Zakia Arghandiwal

As the first group of shows to exhibit live for 2021 at the Counihan Gallery, we have been scheduled to coincide with International Women's Day which Moreland Council promotes

in their public program.

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Curated by Sharon Plummer, the exhibition of our handkerchiefs will occur concurrently

with 'Garden' by Heather Hesterman, and 'Disobedient Daughters' curated by Sophia Cai. We are very excited to be exhibiting in such great company.

view a walk through the exhibition
"Handkerchiefs offer a message of hope to the women of Kabul"
article by Janice Breen Burns in THE AGE
4 September 2020
MAKING MARKS: AUSTRALIA TO AFGHANISTAN
Making masks in a time of covid 19
Making Masks
Hobart book launch - 20th October 2020
held on the traditional lands of the Muwinina people
 
MAKING MARKS: 
AUSTRALIA TO AFGHANISTAN
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A conversation about the project and the symbolic meaning of handkerchiefs during an evening of Traditional Afghan drumming, food and celebration of the local Afghan community. 
MAKING MARKS:
AUSTRALIA TO AFGHANISTAN
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COUNIHAN GALLERY
IN BRUNSWICK
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Exhibition postponed to 2021 [due to Covid-19]
counihan gallery exhibition 2021

THE HANDKERCHIEF PROJECT

included in 

Beyond the Veil Traveling Exhibition 2019 - 2022

 

Venice Biennale, Paris France, Luanda Angola, Katwoice Poland.

Beyond the Veil  2019.jpg

Beyond the Veil is an international on going art project with the participation of 100 women from five continents and includes visual artists, authors, poets and social activists. 

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