Art programs on the television are usually fairly light
hearted affairs that the majority view as a sort of an
enjoyable and none confronting entertainment, more
than anything else really.

I sat down to leisurely watch such a program some
months ago, but instead of the usual visual chewing
gum, I was harshly jolted into the ugly realities of our
fractured world, something that most of us see only
on the evening news, as we enjoy a cup of coffee or a
drink after being treated to a nice supper, conveniently
detached and totally desensitised by all the violence
that is served daily on our screens. But this was so
different, this was someone, an artist, that forcibly
opens the viewer’s eyes shouting “ you must look, you
must take notice, I dare you, I dare you, I dare you.....”
 

That program was a documentary about the work of
the Australian contemporary artist George Gittoes. An
amazing artist that, literally, puts his life on the line to
document, first hand, images from war torn countries
and strife stricken places around the world. Borders or
conflicts can’t keep him at bay. The threat of being
blown to bits by land mines or stray shells doesn’t
dampen his resolve to be the eye witness that he is.
And while all the media cover the wider issues of any
story, George Gittoes presents a real close up of the

human side and the terrible price that is often exacted

upon innocent victims that have been trapped by warring
factions, the world at large doesn’t care to know, but
his powerful paintings serve as a constant reminder of
such events and hopefully prick our conscience to act.
 

This is central to his art’s philosophy, to be there as
an eye witness recording events that is happening in
front of his own eyes, to document humanity’s pain
and suffering in deep and penetrating images that go
way beyond the shallow pretence of  genre art,
sacrificing the comfort and the security of a “normal”
art career to be what a true artist should be, a social
conscience to our times and a chronicle of a unique
tale that must be told!  

A brief outline of Gittoes’ biography is, no doubt, in
order. Gittoes is a Sydney born artist who has been
a practising artist for over thirty years, has studied art
in Sydney and New York, completed an important body
of works known as the ' The Hotel Kennedy' series '

then returned to Sydney to practice and exhibit his art.
He has developed a wider scope of artistic interest

including holography, photography , performance art,
environmental theatre and experimental film making.
He has been documenting conflicts in many, many
volatile places around the Globe and his exhibitions
continue to tour Australia drawing dedicated crowds
and generating lots of controversial discussions.

Gittoes has gradually become one of the most media
profiled artists with many major exhibitions to his
name and many of his paintings acquired by most of
the significant art galleries in Australia with a lot of
his work represented in public and private collections.
George Gittoes has received many awards , including

being twice the winner of the Blake Prize for Religious

Art ( 1992 & 95 ) , and a winner of the Art Gallery of
NSW's Wynne Prize for Landscape Painting ( 1993 ).
He was awarded the Order of Australia, AM, In 1997
for his services to the arts and international relations

and efforts most notably in helping to draw the world’s

attention to the millions of unexploded personnel land

mines in Cambodia and other countries around world.
A compelling vision of the darker side of humanity
and a cry for all who have an ear to listen and to
change before it is too late!
Please visit George Gittoes website at :

 

www.gittoes.com

Hopefully you will be shocked out of your complacency!