Memory, Remembrance, Commemoration: The Book of Healing
- Dr Roslyn Russell
- May 20
- 1 min read
Essay for Contemporary Gallipoli 2015 Exhibition
2015
Abstract
This essay explores The Book of Healing, an artwork by Meredith Brice created for the Contemporary Gallipoli 2015 exhibition. Through the overlaying of red poppies onto a vintage surgical instrument catalogue, the work connects public remembrance of war with personal and family memory.
The article explores how objects, symbols, and documentary heritage contribute to collective memory of World War I, particularly within the Australian context of Anzac commemoration. It also reflects on the role of surgical instrument makers and medical care in wartime experiences, linking national histories of conflict and healing to the artist’s own family history.
By combining historical interpretation with personal reflection, the essay considers how remembrance is shaped through both public symbolism and intimate family narratives.