Having such a large description panel allowed the featuring of a striking quote from a serving member of the DOVO-SEDEE bomb disposal team. Many such teams operate throughout the globe on former war zones; although this work focuses on just one team, the quote is a reminder of the danger under which they routinely operate.
The exhibition's layout - an explainer!
Alongside the twenty-five images that make up Recovering The Past, the Melbourne display incorporates ‘mini-displays’ for each of the the long-term social and physical consequences of war which the exhibition explores. One is a study of the history and ongoing operations of the DOVO-SEDEE bomb disposal team who feature in the exhibition’s imagery. The other, a case-study of Evan and Alice Derby, and the war-caused trauma they both endured.
The supporting DOVO-SEDEE display. Text, insignia and vintage imagery from the team’s century of operations.
A poignant display explains the tragic story of Evan and Alice Derby. Post-conflict victims of the Great War, their story represents similar fates endured by millions of men and women across the globe throughout the course of the last century.
‘My mind is a blank. This will break my mind’s heart’ – Evan’s handwritten words on the 5cm x 8cm scrap of torn card found alongside his body; seen in-person, it’s a sad epitaph to a human life.
Evan’s mental health had been severely damaged from his time in the Western Front’s trenches of France. The note was attached to his inquest document from 1920, and loaned for the display by the Victoria state Public Records Office.
The Shrine’s retail space made a colourful, dedicated sales point for the exhibition catalogue!
A beautifully crafted display of Recovering The Past. This venue’s curatorial team have worked hard to develop all aspects of this display since its confirmation in 2022.
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