Phil Johns 'Battle fatigue' 2017 (detail) acrylic and graphite on board 90x141cm Photo credit: Jason Wescott

Coarse Language

Phil Johns and Ian Tunbridge

Coarse Language sees Far North Queensland artists Phil Johns and Ian Tunbridge respond to vetted images taken on the battlefields of Afghanistan by individuals serving in the Special Air Service Regiment. The works speak of the hardship and sacrifice of these individuals – reinterpreting some of their darkest experiences through industrial assemblage and large-scale drawings and paintings. Through this they expose the coarse visual language apparent in armed conflict, and the grit and dedication of those who experience it.