Arabella Dorman

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Arabella Dorman (born 1975 in London)[1] is a British war artist and portrait painter.[2][3] She was chosen as one of the BBC's "100 Women" in 2014.[4]

Life[]

Dorman was born in 1975 in London. She studied at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London (since absorbed into Central Saint Martins) and the University of Edinburgh.[2] She is married to Dominic Elliot, a film maker.[2]

In 2006 Dorman was Britain's first official war artist to go to the front line in Iraq[3] after being invited by Lt Gen Richard Shirreff, who had purchased one of her works.[5] She started her time in Iraq with the Royal Green Jackets in Basra Palace, where she frequently came under enemy fire, then went to the desert near the Iranian border.[6] She spent time with British forces in Afghanistan in 2009-2014. In 2009 she was embedded with 2nd Battalion, The Rifles in Sangin, Helmand, though she was not allowed to accompany soldiers on patrol,[7] and in 2010 travelled within Afghanistan from her base in Kabul.[8]

She worked with refugees in Lesbos, Calais and Dunkirk in 2015 and 2016.[9] In December 2015 she created an art installation by suspending a dinghy, which had been used to transport refugees across the Mediterranean, from the roof of St James's Church, Piccadilly.[10][11] Called Flight, the exhibit was on display until February 2016, and related the flight of refugees to the ancient tradition of hanging boats from church roofs.[12]

Dorman has exhibited at venues including the Imperial War Museum, the Frost and Reed Gallery, and .[13]

References[]

  1. ^ Imperial War Museum: 'Dorman, Arabella (Oral history)'
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Alberge, Dalya (19 October 2014). "An artist in Afghanistan: 'To tell the story, you've got to take risks'". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Harrison, David (2 May 2009). "War artist Arabella Dorman paints Iraq". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Who are the 100 Women 2014?". BBC News. 26 October 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  5. ^ Richard Brooks, 'The new generation of war artists is more interested in capturing the psychology of warfare than the heroics of battle', Sunday Times magazine, 26 July 2009
  6. ^ Melissa van der Klugt, 'Charcoal and mortar on the frontlines of Iraq', The Times, 9 May 2009
  7. ^ Tom Coghlan 'How fast can you do my portrait? What soldiers asked artist before going on patrol ', The Times, 1 December 2009
  8. ^ Melissa van der Klugt,'The art of war in Afghanistan: Arabella Dorman has chronicled a country caught between hope and fear', The Times, 18 October 2014
  9. ^ "About Arabella Dorman". Arabella Dorman. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  10. ^ Jonathan Jones (20 December 2015) "Flight by Arabella Dorman review: relic of a rough crossing illustrates refugee crisis", The Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  11. ^ Robert Dex (27 January 2016) "Dinghy used to flee Syria will hang over audience at concert for victims of war", The Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Flight, St James's Piccadilly: 20 December - 8 February 2016". Arabella Dorman. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Exhibitions". Arabella Dorman. Retrieved 21 November 2016.

External links[]

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