‘Behind the Bastion’ Exhibition, Doddington Hall

A poignant art exhibition on display at Doddington Hall that tells the personal stories of British troops' experiences of home whilst deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, and the lives they lived in operating bases. 

When the UK Armed Forces deploy overseas, they operate out of static locations known as operational bases. Historically and through to the present day, troops on deployment make these spaces feel like ‘home’ through a range of ‘placemaking’ activities, including displaying photos, creating murals, building furniture, and erecting signposts. This practice helps to detach the operational base from the hostile surroundings, which mitigates the stresses, frustrations, and discomforts inherent to being deployed.

Part of a wider project on vernacular ‘placemaking’ within the British military, the exhibition is designed to generate new conversations about an overlooked aspect of deployment.

The exhibition includes new work by Ed Kluz displayed alongside art produced by veterans currently based in the Lincolnshire area.

‘Behind the Bastion’ is an Imperial War Museums 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund commission in partnership with Bishop Grosseteste University.