Share and Follow
As he marks the tenth anniversary of his impactful project, Peter Drew is ready to ignite another conversation. This time, he introduces at least six new profiles, continuing his quest to challenge perceptions and spark dialogue.
Drew acknowledges that not everyone appreciates his art, but his aim is to bridge gaps with those who may initially disagree with its message. He hopes to offer a fresh perspective that may change minds and open hearts.
“I want to connect with people who harbor fears about those who appear different from them, as such fears are inherently human,” Drew shared with SBS News. “At the same time, I aspire for the posters to convey a sense of welcome to new arrivals in Australia, assuring them that they belong here just as much as I do.”
Reflecting on Australia’s past, Drew noted, “Because of that racist policy, we now possess an incredible collection of photographs in the National Archive, showcasing the diversity that existed in Australia even then. It’s one of those fascinating ironies of history.”
“Because of that racist policy, we now have all these amazing photographs in the National Archive of just how diverse Australia was at the time,” Drew reflected. “And I think it’s just one of those great ironies of history.”
He knew the posters would be liked and disliked in equal measure, but had no idea he’d still be doing the project a decade on.
Defining patriotism
Further marches followed last weekend.
When protesters at one of the rallies in Adelaide in August tore down his posters, Drew used it as inspiration for a new piece of art depicting the moment.
One of Peter Drew’s newer posters recreates an incident at an Adelaide protest, where demonstrators tore down one of his works. He said on social media he hopes the people pictured are “capable of assimilating” into Australian culture. Source: SBS News
“Aussie?” the label underneath reads.
Drew said the protesters should reflect on their actions and ask themselves: “Are we being Aussie? Is this sort of behaviour really strong, or is this a weak thing to do?”
A far-reaching message
The politician was inspired to look into the archives and found an ancestor, an Indian farmer who settled on the mid north coast in the late 1800s.
Singh celebrated the recognition of Australia’s multicultural history across its city streets, but said he was distressed to see the posters being torn down.
For Drew, the exchange with Singh was a powerful example of exactly what he’s trying to achieve.
