Staff can now explore World War 1 as never seen before, following last week’s launch of Harvey Broadbent’s new book Gallipoli, The Turkish Defence, and the Art Gallery’s powerful new exhibition Perceptions of War. Now, on display for the first time in Australia are archival maps revealing Turkish defence lines and strategies, comics and cartoons from the frontline and more.
Senior Research Fellow from the Department of Modern History, Harvey Broadbent, says the exhibition presents the lesser known aspects of Gallipoli that emanate from the Turkish side and fleshes out the ANZAC experience.
“The maps are all from the Turkish General Staff Military Archives and came to light during the six year research project I conducted for Macquarie,” he said. “Some are actual battlefield sketches done at the end of a day’s fighting showing unit and front line movements, and others are attached to situational reports. One particularly interesting one is an aerial reconnaissance map produced by a German pilot and a Turkish observer.”
Harvey says the exhibits present an appreciation of the shared experience of Gallipoli and war in general.
Art Gallery curator, Rhonda Davis, says the exhibition provides a different perspective of World War 1 and dispels some of the myths that surround this catastrophic campaign.
“I guess it’s on everyone’s minds this year,” she said. “It’s a time for review and reflection, and many people will relate to this exhibition in some way.”
With co-curator Sara Smyth-King, Rhonda has drawn together a wide range of materials, including a documentary shot on site in Turkey by Professor Sean Brawley, comics and cartoons gathered by Professor Jane Chapman, and even an interactive board game.
Public lectures:
Visual Satire and Australian Identity, 1914-18
Presented by Professor Jane Chapman
Thursday 19 February at 1pm
Humour as History – Soldier Cartoons from the Trenches
Presented by Professor Jane Chapman
Thursday 5 March at 1pm
The exhibition will be on display at the University Art Gallery until 18 March.