Voices of
Molasses ! A viscous substance primarily used to sweeten and flavour foods . A major constituent of fine commercial brown sugar . And a primary ingredient used to distil rum .
I ’ ve eaten food containing molasses , seen photographs of it , even found a photography business with the word molasses in its name . Never before have I seen portraits of people covered with molasses with its thick , sticky consistency . Glue-like , tacky , treacly , and slimy might also be used to describe this substance .
Voices of Veterans , created by artist and veteran Michael Armstrong , is a collection of photographic works that visually represent individual experiences of living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD ). So is this an exhibition of artworks or is it simply about supporting a Veterans ’ cause ?
The exhibits are most definitely photo artworks and very fine ones indeed . But the exhibition is also part of an important project . Every sale contributes to the Voices of Veterans Fund , supporting veteran health and directly funding grassroots arts programs in Australian veteran communities . And it is always great to see art being used to highlight important issues .
So why use molasses , covering large expanses of the subjects ’ bodies with it ? Armstrong says " Molasses behaves in a manner that mirrors many of the symptoms of PTSD . Its weight and dark enveloping form , it ' s staining and sticky qualities mark everything it touches . The manner in which it mirrors qualities of light and dark around it . My models naturally resonated with the experience of working with molasses and found the medium profoundly evocative ".
There are both monochrome and colour images - dark and brooding portraits , some where facial expressions are not easy to interpret , others where the molasses reminded me of bleeding wounds .
A very powerful one features a hand hanging down alongside part of a torso , richly coloured molasses clinging to it yet also dripping . Indeed all
St Margaret ’ s News 2 December 2022