Cory Rinaldi: A Veteran’s Connection to the Australian Flag

In 2019, Cory was honoured to become the first Veteran Artist in Residence at the ANZAC Memorial; a residency which helped Cory challenge himself artistically and propel his career as a talented artist. Cory’s work throughout this residency also paved the way for a successful program, laying the foundation for future veterans to heal through art and grow their own skillset.

Flags as a Symbol of Identity

Cory is captivated by the close connection between Defence Force personnel and flags, particularly the way the flag carries meaning and emotion, and often explores this in his artwork. “Flags are important in the Defence Force. They are treated with respect, there are protocols and rules that give significance to each action you take with the flag.”

“There’s something about the flag. Flags identify us, they are our identity. All battalions carry flags, you always have a flag with you. You wear a patch with the flag.”

After a helicopter crash on deployment which killed five people, Cory found himself standing in front of the coffins of two fallen soldiers, thinking “I should have brought an Australian flag”. Later, Cory painted his piece Sacrifice, capturing this memory. After he had finished the piece, he realised he had also been processing what he had seen while he painted. 

In his work, Cory removes the human element from the scenes he paints. He tries to capture the emotion of a moment, without making the image confronting or triggering for people who have suffered from loss. In his painting Sacrifice, Cory told us he initially pictured the flag neat and straight, but when he began sketching, it didn’t tell a story. Repositioning the flag brought it to life, taking an ordinary object and imparting an unspoken depth of meaning.

Cory is currently working on an exhibition based around the imagery of flags. He paints not just a static flag, but a flag brought to life in the moment being captured, such as through movement, detail, or placement. He wants to embody meaning and emotion: “Even when the flag hangs down on the pole, that’s an emotion.”

His artwork often focuses on the fading of flags and how the faded fabric captures the story of the flag: “The fading shows how much it has been used, just as how the details show how much work a pair of boots have done. Flags come back from war patched up in a way which tells the story of what they’ve been through.”

“We wear it, we salute it, and when our time comes, the flag embraces us like a mother.” 

Cory Rinaldi is a spokesman for the power of art therapy in the treatment of PTSD. Through his work as Cronulla RSL Sub-Branch president, and his career as an artist, he is sharing his experience and his values in a powerful way that is inspiring fellow veterans around the country. 

“I know I have inspired others, because I’ve had so many people tell me.”

To support Cory Rinaldi and see more of his inspiring work, follow @coryrinaldiart on Instagram and Facebook.