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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Fuzzy Prime Ministers of Australia

Previous exhibition
from Friday 3 August until Sunday 9 September 2001

In the one hundred years since Federation, Australia has produced twenty-five Prime Ministers of all shapes, shades and sizes.

With an earnest desire to address Australia's lack of interest in its political history, Martin Wilson has created 25 hooked wool rugs of our Prime Ministers. Simultaneously respectful and irreverent, these images with their cartoon outlines have a child-like quality and appeal, but are clearly identifiable as serious portraits. Wilson believes that this portrait series has the potential to 'unite the country like no other rugs have before'.

"These are serious works of art by a serious artist, but one who, in addition to an original mind and a considerable talent, has a highly developed sense of humour, a feeling for gentle satire and an endearing larrikin quality.Wilson manages to make his pollies something they rarely are in life - warm and cuddly."

Leo Schofield
Director Sydney Festival 2001.

The Hon. Edward Gough Whitlam, by Martin Wilson.
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

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