Other Worlds - the final exhibition

Works by four artists and four servicemen exploring the world of the soldier
Rfn. Adam Davies
Fran Donovan
WO2 John Galletly
SAC Joe Heard
Richard Hoare
C/Sgt. Barry John MBE*
Prudence Maltby
Jeff Walker

* Winner of the Armed Forces Art Society’s 2011 Templer Award

Salisbury Library & Galleries
Saturday 1 October to Saturday 26 November 2011
Open Monday 10-7, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9-7,
Thursday & Saturday 9-5


Other Worlds is an inspirational community arts project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The concept was originated with the intention of giving the general public an insight into the little understood world of the men and women of our Armed Forces.

This unique show, marking the culmination of the project, is the result of a two-phase programme designed for four volunteer servicemen. After six months of sessions in which they explored and developed their foundation art skills, the servicemen were carefully matched up on a one-to-one basis with four practising artists for mentoring sessions. These are aimed at taking the particular artistic interests of each individual forward, and exploring the artists’ and servicemen’s different experiences of conflict – both in its military sense and in its wider meaning.

This exhibition throws light on the experience of the serving soldier in modern British society and on the interface between military and civilian worlds by offering art created by the servicemen in collaboration with their mentors, alongside the practising artists’ own responses to the project. It tells the story, not so much of the direct experience of conflict itself, as of the hidden facets of our servicemen’s physical and emotional lives, whether on tour of duty or in civilian life. The result is one expressive, resounding voice concerned with the many faces of conflict.

Showing will be up to 40 pieces of work exploring various mediums including oil on canvas, drawing and sculpture.

The exhibition will tour in 2012.

The Other worlds Project

Other Worlds started in July 2010. It has comprised a series of unique exhibitions by practising artists exploring the theme of conflict; arts skills workshops and professional mentoring for active service personnel; and a major schools project. With the war continuing in Afghanistan, and many soldiers deployed on the frontline, this project has served both to provide servicemen and women and their families with the opportunity to use the visual arts to tell their story, leaving a permanent legacy for others to see; and to provide the general public with a window on the world of our service personnel and a greater understanding of their experiences.