Mont St Quentin Diorama

Mont St Quentin was the first diorama produced in the First World War series and represents a tactically difficult situation as well as the daring of the Australian soldiers. The sculptor, C. Web Gilbert, said when making the diorama, "I want to satisfy not only the art critic and the military enthusiast, but the Dinkum Digger critic." Gilbert chose Mont St Quentin first "not only because it lends itself best to picturesque treatment, but because it typifies and crowns the great sweeping victories of the A.I.F. that preceded the smashing of the Hindenburg line - and then the Armistice".
Arlo Mountford is a Melbourne based artist who works primarily with large-scale interactive installations paired with sound, video and animation. History is an integral part of his practice often making works filled with references to art history and events.
Mountford was commissioned to create a background for the Mont St Quentin diorama which spans 8 hours and includes sound and animation. He spent months mining the Memorial's collection and archives, reading all he could about the Battle of Mont St Quentin in order to develop his concept.