Special forces (after bansky)
Date: 2008
Region: Australia
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Painting
Artist: Van Thanh Rudd (b. 1973)
Confronting Bodies: Melbourne City Council
Date of Action: May 23, 2008
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Description of Artwork: The painting depicts Ronald McDonald running past a burning monk, with Olympic torch in hand.
The Incident: City officials banned the work from public exhibition, citing copyright concerns as the reason. The artist asserts that his painting is a comment about how the global economy interferes with human rights' initiatives.
Results of Incident: Rudd and his supporters are voicing protest. In their opinion, Australian government officials see the painting's references to China as a threat to Sino-Australian relations.
Source: The Age and ABC News; http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/rudd-nephews-artwork-rejected/2008/05/23/1211183064608.html
