“I want to share with people the methods I used to enter this exhibition as a form of creative intervention, and to combine that with an overall message, a protest against Australian nationalist euphoria that helps justify the government’s increased military spending while many people go deeper into poverty due to budget cuts and privatization of public resources.”

V-T-R also plans to withdraw the painting from the community focused art exhibition on Australia Day, January 2016 as a continuation of the protest, and will formally notify the exhibition organisers in the coming days.

“An Australia day withdrawal will extend upon the statement against the militarised nationalist fervour that is cultivated in this country.  It’s against the billions of dollars each year spent on military equipment by the Australian Government as it further cuts living standards for ordinary people such as in health and aged care. Just look at the increased military spyware being used at Pine Gap that can be used by the U.S and Australian governments to further intervene into all of our lives”.

V-T-R is notorious for questioning imperialism and war. A collage of his created in 2009 depicting cricketer Shane Warne screaming next to coffined Australian soldiers, created news headlines around Australia. And he considers his sculpture of a wounded, suicidal Australian soldier placed on the railing of Melbourne’s Princes Bridge during a 2013 ANZAC ceremony, as one of his most powerful works about returned soldiers’ experience of post-traumatic stress.

Peace and Quiet, as part of State Library’s Q ANZAC 100: Memories for a New Generation program, is supported by the Queensland Government.
Starts: 28th Nov 2015 10:00am-5:00pm
Runs: Every day, until 14th Feb 2016
Venue: State Library of Queensland Gallery, level 2, State Library, Stanley Place, South Bank.