Staffordshire Reef artist Dean Smith’s latest sculptures of two Anzac soldiers bear a striking similarity to Sidney Nolan's famous Gallipoli paintings.
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Smith has been hard at work over recent weeks to complete the larger-than-life wooden diggers, which will be unveiled at Beaufort Memorial Gardens on Anzac Day.
Just as in Nolan’s series, Smith has depicted a different side to Australian soldiers than what we usually see.
Smith’s grandfather, Ronald Smith, fought in Borneo during World War II but struggled readjusting to civilian life back home.
He shot himself at the age of 50.
In response, Smith wanted to capture the impact the two world wars had on our young country.
“At home we talk a lot now about nationalism, colonialism and the motivation for going off to war,” he said.
A video documentary of Smith is also in the works.
To see more of his sculptures and to get in touch, head to deansmithdancingbear.com.