Gibbs, Nicholas Roland Antony (Oral history)

British civilian war artist in the Balkans, 1993-1995

REEL 1 Background in GB and Germany, 1957-1993: military background of family including in Cabinet War Rooms; opinion of exhibitions; memories of childhood in GB and Germany including scenes of devastation from Second World War; work of cousin Laura Buxton in Mostar; own and family background in art; education including interest in art; short period in Coldstream Guards; details of and period in National Association for Freedom including meeting of dissidents from USSR and Eastern Europe; civilian work with Christie's auction house, late 1970s; background to becoming an artist; work as artist, 1981-1993; decision to travel to Croatia; desire to work in war zone; flight to Zagreb. Aspects of period as civilian war artist in Croatia, 1993: arrival at Zagreb airport; accommodation in Panarama Hotel. REEL 2 Continues: situation in Croatia including presence of United Nations; artistic work during trip; attempt to join Canadian UN troops; further details of accommodation in Panarama Hotel; scenes around Zagreb and comparison with childhood in Germany; running out of money; story of explosion and reaction of civilians; scenes of trains on Slovenian border; detail of camera taken on trip; story of train journey to Milan; stay in hotel in Milan; journey to Glasgow; state of Zagreb and city's involvement in war; period in GB and USA. Aspects of period as civilian war artist in Croatia, 1994: advice gained before return; train journey to Zagreb; accommodation including communications, heating and food situation; friends made in Zagreb; events in Gorazde; train journeys to battle zones; visits to Karlovac and Sisak including situation in towns; story of evacuation from a train; scenes of devastation; arrival in Karlovac; story of soldier while taking photographs taken of scenes in town; clothing worn; belief in safety. REEL 3 Continues: young conscripts and cafés in Zagreb; explanation of working method; transport of paint; problems from not taking solvents and substitute used; leisure activities in Zagreb including gunfire on Friday nights; reason for avoiding trams; story of getting lost in hills; visits to churches and cathedrals; scenes in cemetery including funeral of a sports star; film made in same cemetery; work undertaken in Sisak; fear of being arrested as spy; listening to BBC while painting and story of burning ammunition dump; being taken as Croat; visit to Italy as child; return to GB and length of stay; story of missing train back from Karlovac; period in USA. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1994- 1995: preparations for exhibition; problems of transporting canvasses; details of flight out of Croatia; details of exhibition in Belgravia; problems with selling war art; period in Devon; reasons for third trip to Croatia and situation in Krajina; inspiration of scenes of Croats flying their flag in Knin; details of coach journey to Croatia. Aspects of period as civilian war artist in Croatia, 1995: changes in Zagreb since last visit; return to accommodation; more on changes in Zagreb. REEL 4 Continues: signs of American money in Zagreb; attempt to book trip to Knin; meetings with woman selling medical supplies including visit to United Nations Headquarters; story of journey to Petrinja including scenes of refugees; reasons for not photographing people; desire to work alone; research for paintings; story of approaching soldiers; journey out from Petrinja; story behind painting Ruins of War, painting donated to Imperial War Museum, including Croat policy of clearing Serbs from towns and story of secretly filming; scenes of war damage while living in Berlin when teenager; details of a war art exhibition at Christie's. REEL 5 Continues: visit to concert in Zagreb; story of a dinner party attended; reflections on brutality of war in Balkans; reasons for start of war; attitude of neutrality in Zagreb; story of background of one man met; story of Yugoslav training given to Iraqis and Libyans; tourism in Croatia; reasons for not visiting Zadar and Dubrovnik; knowledge of events in Dubrovnik including use of tiles to protect shelled houses; need to record old buildings before their complete removal; takeover of nature in ruined buildings. Aspects of later exhibition in home; paintings made on honeymoon; intentions regarding possible future war work; influence of past war artists; reflections on own art; use of photography in work including motivations and inspirations behind painting; discussion of use of colours and work of past masters. REEL 6 Continues: explanation and reading of poem written during Falklands War; views on war.