Pixelated Semantics

The War on Art: shots fired, none injured

Those who doubt the government's willingness and capacity to use anti-terror measures to silence critics need to think again. According to the ABC this morning, 'manipulated digital portraits' of the Prime Minister and two senior ministers hanging in the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery have been labelled 'treasonous' but they are (as yet) not be coming down. The artist, Michael Agzarian, has been told the Prime Minister's office received a complaint alleging his works were 'treasonous'. The complaint was referred to the Arts Department, which then contacted the gallery to ask if the show was government-funded - strongly suggesting a willingness to intervene where authority can be claimed, impacting any artist, musician, or writer who receives (or works under) government funding. The first shot in the War on Art has been fired. For creative contrarians, the signs are certainly ominous.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 1:34 pm ::