CAMOUFLAGE: from nature to military to fashion

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About

In association with her current exhibition, The birds sing so sweetly- they don’t know there’s a

war going on, artist Barb Hunt will be giving an artist talk on Camouflage: from nature to military

fashion. This illustrated presentation will trace relationships between art, camouflage patterns,

nature, and war. The origin of camouflage was its early use by hunters, who hid by attaching

foliage to themselves. Later, British soldiers in the Boer War dyed their white uniforms with

substances from nature: earth, tea leaves, and the juice of berries. During the First World War,

camouflage patterns were created by artists who were inspired by nature. More recently

Canada used computers to make the first digital camouflage, by matching the mathematical

value of a landscape’s colour components. Camouflage designs are also widespread in

contemporary culture, prevalent in consumer goods and the media. Not only is the camouflaged

soldier embedded in nature, but the prevalence of camouflage in civilian society indicates how

war itself is ‘camouflaged’ among us.

Organizer

First Fridays in the Exchange

FIRST FRIDAYS in the EXCHANGE is an independent, non-profit, membership-based organization. Our vision is to encourage everyone in Winnipeg to come explore the arts and culture of the Exchange District on the first Friday of the month – a monthly arts and culture event like no other in Winnipeg!