Empire Builder (Private William Wickham), 2024
acrylic paint on xuan paper
(H) 75 x (W) 50 cm
These masked figures, known as Empire Builders, are faceless foot soldiers overshadowed by their more famous commanders. In this series, the pith helmet—historically worn by colonial soldiers to shield against the tropical sun—is reimagined to evoke powerful and darkly humorous imagery, becoming “balaclava-ish.” The visual similarity between balaclavas and Ku Klux Klan hoods references Philip Guston’s portrayal of the Klan, highlighting how seemingly innocuous symbols can coerce intimidation and control.
This deliberate subversion interrogates the dark undercurrents of colonial history, revealing how symbols of authority and protection were entangled with racial violence and subjugation. The pith helmet, a relic of imperialism, invites viewers to reflect on how colonial authority often masked brutal realities under the guise of civilising missions. This juxtaposition between historical symbols of protection and their darker implications offers a powerful critique of colonial legacies.
The balaclava-ish helmets also reference Jack van Tongeren, a notorious Boorloo-based anti-Asian supremacist known for his violent attacks and arson in Western Australia. As a teenager growing up in Boorloo, I vividly imagined him committing these acts of terror while masked in balaclavas. By merging historical and imagined soldiers in this unsettling depiction, the series urges viewers to confront the ongoing consequences of colonialism and racism.
This deliberate subversion interrogates the dark undercurrents of colonial history, revealing how symbols of authority and protection were entangled with racial violence and subjugation. The pith helmet, a relic of imperialism, invites viewers to reflect on how colonial authority often masked brutal realities under the guise of civilising missions. This juxtaposition between historical symbols of protection and their darker implications offers a powerful critique of colonial legacies.
The balaclava-ish helmets also reference Jack van Tongeren, a notorious Boorloo-based anti-Asian supremacist known for his violent attacks and arson in Western Australia. As a teenager growing up in Boorloo, I vividly imagined him committing these acts of terror while masked in balaclavas. By merging historical and imagined soldiers in this unsettling depiction, the series urges viewers to confront the ongoing consequences of colonialism and racism.