We recently caught up with war artist Arabella Dorman who’s about to embark on a desert trek to highlight the impact of modernity and climate change on the Bedouin. Arabella will join two explorers to find out more about the Arabic tribe who’ve lived nomadically for thousands of years, whilst maintaining their traditions.
The physical and psychological challenges involved aren’t new to Arabella, who’s been deployed as a war artist many times. She’s going with a blank canvas and an open mind. Through art, Arabella tries to make human connections and shine a light on ways of life that aren’t always well known or understood.
As an artist Arabella believes she can tell the story of others to influence change.
Arabella’s journey started in 2006, when she was invited to travel to Iraq as an official war artist by the then Lieutenant General Shirref KCB CBE. She jumped at the opportunity and spent a month travelling with different battlegroups. Later, she travelled to Afghanistan several times between 2009 and 2014, spending time with The Rifles in Sangin, Helmand. For Arabella it was a dream come true and a huge honour. As well as being classically trained with many traditional influences, she greatly admires Lady Butler – a war artist who painted scenes from the Crimean and Napoleonic Wars.
These expeditions involved risk, but Arabella’s firmly of the view that life without risk isn’t worth living.
Although Arabella sees her involvement as a privilege, she’s concerned about being a liability for the soldiers. She works quickly with her sketchbooks and charcoals, often gifting her portraits as a way to gain trust and start conversations with her subjects.
These included many young soldiers, who relished talking to Arabella about their families during quiet times before or after patrols. Their professionalism, dedication, courage and commitment to each other made a profound impact on her. She’s since found their sense of service echoed in the military charities that she’s worked with.
But Arabella also saw their sacrifice through injury, and even death. She aimed to capture how trauma can affect someone. “Faces of the Fallen” shows a soldier drawn over a collage of photographs of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Aside from painting, Arabella’s always loved the power of words and the ability to connect through communication. She often hosts talks about her experiences, which feature her paintings, as she weaves a narrative of human endurance through soldiers, aid workers or those who live in countries affected by conflict. Arabella appreciates all her subjects as human beings, focusing on what unites us, rather than what divides us.
It's no surprise that Arabella supported the Kajaki film and remembers those who were left behind and those who suffered life-changing injuries. Her work’s been exhibited in major galleries, churches, cathedrals and at Westminster Abbey. Her installation “Suspended” toured the country before being installed at Canterbury Cathedral where Arabella was pleased to be part of the conversation about the refugee crisis. We look forward to seeing her images from the next chapter.
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