The Invasion (painting)
Date: 2010
Region: Australia
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Painting
Artist: Chris Degenhardt (b. 1948)
Confronting Bodies: Tweed Shire Council
Date of Action: June 2010
Location: Murwillumbah, Australia
Description of Artwork: The Invasion is an amalgamation of history, art, and jarring images, ranging from Munch's The Scream to Nazis, to a dead koala bear.
The Incident: The painting expresses outrage which stems from the state government's "Special Legislation" that overrode a number of entrenched environmental and social laws, just so that Repco Rally Australia, a national racing organization, could run its car race in national parks. The organization was not required to file a development application, so the residents of the affected areas had no say over the project. The painting was meant to help empower local councils and their constituencies so that they would have a voice when it comes to development projects exceeding $10 million. It was to be displayed in the Murwillumbah Library, but the Tweed Shire Council banned it from being hung up. No explanation was given.
Results of Incident: Unfortunately, the painting remains unhung in the Murwillumbah Library.
Source: Chris Degenhardt