Murals exploring life through the eyes of a prisoner of war held at Murchison for more than six years have left the town for the first time and will be shown as Shepparton Art Museum‘s newest exhibit.
Hans Wolter von Gruenewaldt: Artworks from Prisoner of War Camp 13 Murchison is the one of the latest instillations in the series of SAM squared exhibitions.
The new display examines the visual legacy of German artist Hans Wolter von Gruenewaldt and brings a little-known piece of local history to the museum.
As a German civilian living in South Africa, von Gruenewaldt fled to Australia at the outset of World War II to avoid internment, only to be captured by the British Navy and sentenced to spend six-and-a-half years as a prisoner of war in country Victoria.
von Gruenewaldt regularly occupied himself by exercising his creativity, eventually attracting the admiration of the camp commandant, who requested von Gruenewaldt decorate the garrison recreation hut.
There were 17 large murals created by von Gruenewaldt, a selection of which have been included in the exhibition, marking their first foray outside of Murchison.
The new exhibition was created by SAM in partnership with Murchison and District Historical Society and the Murchison RSL sub-branch.
SAM exhibitions curator Jessica O’Farrell said the exhibition was an opportunity to showcase the region’s heritage and the works had been “diligently maintained” by the Murchison and District Historical Society and the Murchison RSL.
“These artworks give us insight into the reality of daily life in the Murchison Prisoner of War Camp 13 and reveals the impact of international conflict so close to our home,” she said.
A talk from Murchison and District Historical Society and representatives on July 14 will delve further into the history of von Gruenewaldt and the camp.
Event details are yet to be confirmed, but head to sheppartonartmuseum.com.au for more information in coming days.
The exhibition is on display until September 11.