Research - The Interactive piece

This piece is made up of research photographs I took while visiting Fort George on our official visit with Moray School of Art 3rd year BA students. We were shown around and were able to ask any questions to two serving soldiers, Major McCutcheon and Company Sergeant Major Bowe. Many questions were asked about the structure of the ranks, the British Army Values, the daily life of the soldiers, the training, the opportunities for them, the effects of PTSD and the support systems in place for treatment of veterans and their families. We also asked why these particular officers joined the Army. Major Mc Cutcheon told us that if he had stayed in Glasgow as a young man, he would have ended up either in prison or on the streets. There was no future for him in his home city, joining the infantry gave him a wage and many more opportunities in life for skills, training and travel, Cypress being his favourite posting. He also told us that since joining the British Army he had attained more empathy for his fellow men and people in general, for which he is grateful.

One year ago, the British Army allowed women to join the Infantry and there are currently two women serving at Fort George.

This is an interactive art piece, and I would like anyone to please write (with the sharpies supplied) a comment about the British Army. Any personal comment about an experience you have had, or a member of your family has had, positive or negative, maybe you are an employee, any short sentence about your experiences, it could simply be something significant you have learnt by being in the Armed Forces. This would be greatly appreciated so that we can share our own unique experiences as a way of recording them in this exhibition. Thank you for your willingness to add to our stories.

Celia's work was made for this exhibition and is part of our silent auction, proceeds from the highest bid will go to Janette Binnie's fundraiser for Poppy Scotland.

You can also donate directly to Janette's fundraiser at the below link.