Ink in the Lines: Marking the past for the present

Posted on 6 October, 2020

In Ink in the Lines, the Australian War Memorial (AWM) is demonstrating the power of ink to tell the stories of the past.

Ink means many things to many different people. Amidst a world shaped by impermanence and constant change, there aren’t many ways in which you can document a memory to keep it prominent in your consciousness forever.

Tattoos have the power to bring people together. They spark conversation and allow individuals to reveal narratives of the past which might be left beneath the surface.

The Australian War Memorial’s new exhibition, Ink in the Lines powerfully investigates the ways in which tattoos can reflect a legacy as impactful as military service.

Seeking to explore how tattoos can personify personal stories and experiences of Australian veterans, Ink in the Lines features more than 70 portraits of Australian servicemen and servicewomen’s tattoos in technicolour.

The images depict diverse narratives of bravery, strength, belonging and perseverance, inscribing phrases such as “We will remember them”, or detailing portraits of individuals such as Simpson and his Donkey.

AWM Photographic Curator Stephanie Boyle reflects how tattoos possess a unique ability to commemorate loss and experiences of trauma and adversity through their permanence.

As Stephanie puts it, the purpose of the exhibition is to demonstrate that “everyone has an important story to tell,” by highlighting how “some stories can be written on skin.”

Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson discusses the gravity of tattoos as being one of the few ways in which servicepeople publicly project their experiences of war.

“The experiences of present-day veterans, and their loved ones, are unique and often intensely private,” he says. “There is no more personal way to preserve a memory of an event than to have it tattooed on one’s skin.”

Reflecting on the generosity of the veterans who displayed their tattoos for the exhibition, Director Anderson remarked the stories embodied in colourful ink “continue to serve as a reminder of the service and sacrifice we all too often take for granted.”

In addition to the main exhibition, the AWM has sparked a social media campaign #InkintheLines via their Instagram, @AWMemorial.

The hashtag encourages Australian service people to share their ink online, allowing all Australians to remember their service.

Ink in the Lines is on display in the Special Exhibitions Gallery until 27 January 2021. Book your free online ticket on the Australian War Memorial website.

Photographs courtesy of the Australian War Memorial