Our People in QLD
Phillip Johns - The Art of Soldiering
Many people become soldiers, but few turn soldiering into art.
Cairns Reservist Phillip Johns is one of these exceptions.
Phillip, 40, is a Cairns-based Private from 31/42 Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment. He is currently deployed in East Timor with the International Stabilisation Force’s Anzac Infantry Company.
In civilian life Phillip runs a collective studio called Crate 59 that exhibits contemporary work.
At the age of 33 the long-time artist decided to join the Army Reserve.
“I didn’t want to wait until I got too old!” he said.
“I also wanted to try my hand as a war artist, like those who inspire me, such as Sir John Longstaff and Russell Drysdale.”
Phillip is using the quiet time on his deployment to prepare for works of art he will create on his return to Australia.
“I’ve been collecting photos and doing sketches so when I get back home I can work on material that might be considered by the Australian War Memorial,” he said.
“I’ll try to concentrate on the things we did here, the stuff soldiers do.
“There’s been a lot of mundane stuff, and then there’s the patrols out to places like Balibo, which is very special because of its ties with Australia.”
Working with pencils and acrylics while in East Timor, Johns supplements his research with photography.
“I’m always taking photos of my mates, trying to capture them in unguarded moments, so I can show them as they are,” he said.
“I want to show them in the quieter moments that Digger’s share. A lot of war artists have concentrated on heroic scenes of battles, but soldiers spend so much more of their time doing everyday things.
“The banter and the larrikinism that goes on — that’s what defines the Australian soldier and I hope I can bring that out in my work.”