Lot 151. GEORGE GITTOES (b.1949)

"Awliya" 1994

Oil on Canvas
182x122cm
Signed Lower Centre, Dated 93
Prov: Private Collection Adelaide

Frame size: N/A

Condition: Excellent condition, no visible concerns or faults to report, work is on stretched canvas with no additional outside framing.

$1,500-1,800

Similar work Illustrated The Realism of Peace by Deborah Hart page 19

For more than five decades, George Gittoes has pursued an artistic practice unlike any other in Australia. Rather than observing conflict from afar, he has immersed himself in some of the world’s most dangerous humanitarian crises, creating paintings that bear witness to the resilience, dignity and courage of ordinary people. Recognised with many of Australia’s highest honours, including the Blake Prize, the Wynne Prize and the Sydney Peace Prize, and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, Gittoes’ work is represented in the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia and major public collections throughout the country.

Painted in 1994, Awliya belongs to one of the defining periods of Gittoes’ career, following his experiences in Somalia during Operation Solace. The work was inspired by his encounter with a young girl, Awliya, and her grandmother, Mirow, who carried three grandchildren across famine-stricken country after the death of their mother in search of aid. Deeply moved by their resilience and determination, Gittoes transformed this experience into one of the most poignant and enduring images to emerge from his Somali series.