Artistic freedom under attack in Australia

[Al-khiyal]

In an unprecedented attack on democratic rights and freedom of artistic expression, police in the Australian state of Victoria illegally, and without any prior warning, removed an artwork displaying a burnt and tattered Australian flag from a Melbourne gallery last month.

Created by Azlan McLennan and titled Proudly unAustralian, the flag was on a billboard on the first floor outside the Trocadero Art Space gallery. It is the fourth time in the past two years that McLennan’s work, which expresses political opposition to the “war on terror”, the oppression of Palestinians and the growing racial attacks on Muslims and Middle Eastern immigrants, has been censored by authorities.

Police did not inform either McLennan or Trocadero’s owners that they planned to seize Proudly unAustralian. Instead, they waited until the gallery was unattended and then entered a neighboring Internet café and climbed through a window to remove the artwork. A police business card was left behind to inform the artist.

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) and the Australian Lawyers for Human Rights immediately condemned the police actions. NAVA executive director Tamara Winikoff said that the censorship of McLennan work was a serious violation of artistic freedom.

A NAVA media release declared: “In this case we are asking urgent questions about the artist’s rights: did the police have a warrant to remove the artwork, and if so on what grounds; is burning or defacing an Australian flag illegal under state or federal laws; are artists protected from these laws by satirical or fair comment provisions; would such an act be considered seditious under the new legislation; what must be the nature and form of public complaints in order to justify such actions?”

While police have since claimed that they acted in response to public complaints, gallery director Michael Brenner said he had received no objections to the billboard. The gallery, he said, still had not been informed whether police had an official warrant to remove the flag or any indication of when or if the artwork would be returned.

So far no charges have been laid against McLennan or the gallery owners, but police have told the media that they are “still investigating”. They have suggested that McLennan’s display could be treated as an offensive behavior or offensive language incident.

The seizure of McLennan’s artwork occurs against a background of ongoing nationalist hysteria whipped up by the state and federal government and the mass media, which is primarily being directed against Muslims and Middle Eastern immigrants....

Australian police seize artwork from gallery

[ElHenni]

If he isnt articulate enough to presnt his feelings in written format and open dialogue on the subject then he should leave Australia. After all he doesnt have to be there, he could migrate to any number of countries.

Painting a burning flag of the country you live in is just a cheap feel good way of getting a point over and achieves nothing but 50% agreement and 50% anger.

The problem here is that a picture presents a clear messgae but at the same time can be interpreted in any number of ways. An argument can at least present ones clear feelings on a matter in such away that maintains ones adaab, etiquette.

I think the artist is wrong in what he did and beter that the police remove the picture than an angry mob burn it, and they would be entitled to do so.

If I was living in Algeria and saw an Algerian flag drawn burning ide report them to the police, such things are not healthy or proactive for diverse and developing societies.

Progress, argument, dialogue and understanding should come through the pen in the form or words and verbally not in cheap attacks.