IN a significant artistic coup, the Australian War Memorial has commissioned eminent Cooma artist Imants Tillers and the Australian Tapestry Workshop to create a major work of art to depict “a time of great loss in ‘the war to end all wars’ — World War I”.

Tillers, best-known in Canberra for his enormous landscape of Kosciuszko, in an artist of international stature known for his elaborate deconstructions and reconstructions in squares of the Australian landscape terrain.

The tapestry, which will be titled “Avenue of Remembrance”, is to be unveiled at the Australian War Memorial during the Centenary commemorations of Gallipoli on ANZAC Day 2015. The completed tapestry will be 3.3m by 2.8m.

“The Australian Tapestry Workshop is honoured to undertake this commission of national significance,” director of the Tapestry Workshop Antonia Syme said today, adding that Tillers had approached this work with reverence and sensitivity.” The design, she predicted, would create a profound sense of contemplation and remembrance at the War Memorial.

Director of the Memorial, Brendan Nelson said the commemorative tapestry would be displayed prominently at the Memorial. “It will highlight the scale and grandeur of this imposing artwork, as well as commentating the commitment of Australia’s service men and women over more than 100 years,” Dr Nelson said.

The tapestry has been commissioned by the Australian War Memorial through a very generous donation by the Geoff and Helen Handbury Foundation.

The tapestry is expected to take over 2380 hours to complete and is being woven by Master Weavers Sue Batten, Chris Cochius, Pamela Joyce, Milena Paplinska and Cheryl Thornton.

“Avenue of Remembrance” will be available for public viewing during its production at the Australian Tapestry Workshop in South Melbourne from late October, where Brook Andrew’s “Catching Breath” and John Olsen’s “Sun over the You Beaut Country” may also be viewed.