Stuart Bailey
Early works considering wrongheaded political causes
Political posters 2002           
Canberra Contemporary Art Space
2022




“The Real Target” was printed in 2002 as a bleak response to conspiracy theories surrounding the Port Arthur massacre in which 35 people were killed by gunman Martin Bryant. In making this work I assumed the persona of a conspiracy inspired propagandist. Today, the theory that Bryant was supported by elements within the Australian Government in order to restrict access to guns is the kind of idea that could be considered mainstream in the US, and has gained ground in Australia. At the time of its making this image was viewed by me as a kind of absurdist rebuke of these ideas. It might not be read the same way if it was created today.



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