Artist Ben Quilty on Syria's children, and witnessing war

Exploring the drawings of children who've survived Syria's conflict. Australian artist Ben Quilty has made several visits with World Vision to camps in Greece, Lebanon and Serbia, housing refugees from the Syrian conflict.

On his first visit to Lebanon’s Bekka Valley, Ben asked the children there to draw for him.

The power of their pictures, expressing what they’d seen before fleeing their homeland, was immediate.

Ben has since made a number of visits back to the camps, often holding drawing workshops for the children, and has collated their artwork in a book.

Further information

Home: Drawings by Syrian Children is published by Penguin

(Proceeds from the book go directly to World Vision's work with children in the Middle East)

This conversation was recorded at the Brisbane Powerhouse

Listen to Ben Quilty's 2014 conversation with Richard Fidler

Live events with Ben Quilty and Richard Flanagan (for the School of Life):

Melbourne: Wednesday 28 November; Goldfields Theatre, MCEC 7pm

Sydney: Tuesday 27 November; Wesley Conference Centre 7pm

To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.