The State Library of South Australia has welcomed the travelling exhibition of Australia’s most popular political cartooning in 2022, developed and presented to it by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra.
Behind the Lines: The year in political cartoons 2022 is the latest free attraction that features 98 political cartoons by 34 of Australia’s best political cartoonists.
Announcing the exhibition theme Off the Planet, the Library said it reflected a year when lockdowns ended and borders opened with people bursting out from their living rooms eager to discover more.
“While life was starting to return to some sort of normality, Australians still felt uncertainty,” the Library said.
“We faced new challenges with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, skyrocketing interest rates and a cost-of-living crisis,” it said.
“All this and more are represented on the walls of Behind the Lines and encourages visitors to take another look at the past year through witty, insightful and often poignant cartoons.”
Exhibition curator, Amy Lay said this year’s exhibition continued to feature emerging artists who shared their work on social media while avoiding the traditional route of newspapers and opinion pages.
“By featuring cartoonists who haven’t come from traditional media, we’re reflecting the evolution of cartooning, media and Australian democracy that incorporates newer formats that challenge our ways of thinking,” Ms Lay said.
Director of the State Library of South Australia, Geoff Strempel said the library was again pleased to be hosting the travelling exhibition.
“Exhibitions of this kind are part of the State Library’s diverse program of events and activities that invite the community to take part in the life of the Library,” Mr Strempel said.
Behind the Lines 2022: the year in political cartoons: Off the Planet will entertain at the Library until 2 April.
More information about the exhibition can be accessed at this PS News link.
