An artist-led exhibition retracing the path of ANZAC forces during World War II campaigns in Greece is touring venues across Australia, highlighting shared wartime history between Greece and Australia, The Greek Herald reported.
Titled “LUSTRE – Australian Artists in Greece and Crete,” the project brings together 12 Australian and New Zealand artists, photographers, historians and filmmakers. Named after the WWII Australian military unit “Lustre Force,” the exhibition features paintings, photography, metal works and archival material.
The work is based on a two-week research trip in October last year, during which participants visited key historical sites in mainland Greece and the southern island of Crete. The tour was guided by military historian Brad Manera of the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney.
The artists later developed their work in studios, reflecting on landscape, memory and wartime history connecting Greece and Australia.
Sydney-based artist Natalie O’Connor Leontaris said the experience was deeply personal, linking her family history through her grandfather’s service as an ANZAC soldier and her Greek heritage. She said the project allowed her to explore both military history and the experiences of Greek civilians during the war.
