Overview
The exhibition explored the experiences of serving personnel on operational bases and considered how soldiers adapt their living environments in response to the stresses and strains of life in combat.
They Can’t Mess with What’s in Your Head took the form of a model watchtower. Viewers could interact with the watchtower but, instead of looking out, in the mode of surveillance, they were invited to look inwards, through a series of portholes. Inside were a series of scale models, inspired by military training models, each representing a scene based on a veteran’s testimony. Some were based on real locations, while others were imagined spaces, representing a longing for home and loved ones left behind.
Image Gallery
Communities and Places
Veterans of the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan took part in a series of art therapy sessions to explore the theme of home and their experiences on operational bases. These sessions not only provided the veterans with an opportunity to engage with their creative skills, but also encouraged them to reflect on the emotional impact that conflict has had on their lives. Artworks created in these sessions included The View from my Hammock. The participant who created this image said:
‘The hammock served me well and became an unlikely comfort, especially from dusk to nightfall. I hated the dark in Helmand, any fleeting feeling of safety dissipated as darkness fell, attacks and incidents became more likely.’
Watch Film
The project team and veterans discuss the impact of this commission.
Find out more
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Professor Derwin Gregory, Bishop Grosseteste University and artist Ed Kluz explore their work on this commission.