By CASEY NEILL
AN ART exhibition with political and violent themes has been taken down by the City of Greater Dandenong after just two days.
The decision followed community complaints about “Toys: Culture and Community”, displayed on the Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens fence last Monday.
The works include depictions of a Lego man who burns down a building and goes to jail, and military figures contrasted against a pink background.
Artists behind the images claimed the move restricted their freedom of speech and said they hadn’t been told why the council had swooped.
Council community services director Mark Doubleday said the complaints prompted the decision.
“The photographs on display, while of an excellent standard, were not considered appropriate for the venue,” he said.
The council has since found space for the works at Walker Street Gallery in Dandenong, but the four students involved are disappointed their audience will now be restricted.
Jill Dixon was among the group, completing Certificate IV in Photo Imaging at Chisholm TAFE in Dandenong, who produced four poster-sized photos each under the theme ’toys’.
One of her images featured a stack of toy cars with a screw through the middle, commenting on the Australian car industry’s demise, and politicians climbing a money tower in another.
“If these photos have made an impact on someone this much, maybe there’s a message?” she said.
Linden Backhausen’s images placed army toys against a pink background, highlighting gender biases in children’s games.
Jemma Dwyer used Barbie dolls to comment on body image issues.
“We got a complaint about it saying it was too aggressive,” she said.
“I was quite upset.
“We didn’t think there was anything wrong with any of the photos.
“We’re not getting a voice, as artists.”
Ms Dwyer made sure her op-shop sourced dolls were clothed.
“We followed the brief. We made sure everything was PG-rated,” she said.
“Our photos all got printed off and taken to Heritage Hill to be approved.”
She asked for a copy of the letter but her request was refused.
“We were all looking forward to having our work on display,” she said.
“This was the first time our work was going to be displayed for heaps of people to see.”
Artist David Trout teaches the students and was disappointed the council took down the display.
“They’ve indicated that they felt the work was inappropriately placed, and as a result they responded to the complaint and removed it,” he said.
“We really haven’t been given a lot of detail, other than it was seen as inappropriate.”
He said the students had reflected Heritage Hill’s mission to encourage emerging artists.
“The work that was produced was focused on educating,” he said.
“It surprised me that it was seen as in any way inappropriate.
“The work was technically strong and I think that the students put a lot of effort into addressing how toys are perceived and used culturally and in society.
“I think they made statements that were actually constructive and a positive to a public art environment.”
Morgan Beanland’s images depicted a Lego man starting a fire, being hospitalised with injuries from the inferno and spending time in prison.
“I don’t believe my images were aggressive, or anything of that nature,” he said.
“It was basically to show that while a child might think there’s no consequences to a game they play, playing with matches for example has very real consequences.”
Mr Beanland said the display site was a good location and the images were made for it.
“If they were placed somewhere else I don’t think they would fit as well,” he said.
The “Toys: Culture and Community” exhibition will now sit alongside the Black Art White Walls exhibition that launches at Walker Street Gallery on Thursday 4 September.
