How can art be made out of such a horrible setting? Take one look at any of Ben Quilty’s large-scale studio paintings, and your perspective WILL CHANGE.

Ben spent three months in Afghanistan during conflict as an official war artist for the Australian War Memorial in 2011. Beauty isn’t a word you’d associate with images of war, but you’d be hard pressed not to be moved by the gritty, emotive and truly powerful works the artist has created after his time amongst the servicemen and women who served in Kabul, Kandahar and Tarin Kot as part of Operation Slipper. Spend some time at the Flinders University City Gallery to see this exhibition while it’s in town.