Swinging at the piñata, spinning the bottle and bobbing for apples in a year of political party games.

We might be glad 2023 is in the rear-view mirror – but you do not want to miss Behind the Lines 2023: All Fun and Games!

Have a laugh or reflect on the year gone by in the latest retrospective of hot political issues of 2023, as seen through the eyes of Australia’s most insightful political cartoonists.

Whether you live in the city, regional or remote Australia, times were interesting last year – from soaring inflation and climate change to the Voice referendum and international conflicts.

Helping us navigate these complex issues and see beyond the political game-playing were Australia’s established and emerging political cartoonists.

Behind the Lines is a touring exhibition of 100 cartoons, developed by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MoAD) in Canberra, Australia’s national collecting institution dedicated to sharing the stories of Australia’s democracy.

A highlight of this year’s exhibition are works by Fiona Katauskas, a cartoonist for The Guardian, who was named 2023 Political Cartoonist of the Year. Judges acknowledged Katauskas’ work for its heart, humour, and diversity.

Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House website

Exhibition Theme

Every year, Behind the Lines is framed by an overarching theme. This narrative tool is used to express the spirit of the year, in an accessible and fun way. It shapes the subthemes and provides a framework for visitor engagement and exhibition design.

Exhibition theme & title
Behind the Lines: the year in political cartoons 2023: All Fun and Games.

Why this theme?
Each year the Behind the Lines exhibition features a broad selection of political cartoons from around Australia, providing an insight into the year in Australian politics and current affairs. This year’s Behind the Lines is swinging at the pinata, passing the parcel, and waiting for the music to stop because the theme is All Fun and Games. Cartoonists are popping on their party hats and breaking out the bunting while they take us on a journey through the year that was 2023.

Subthemes
The exhibition is broken into ten subthemes:

  1. Political Cartoonist of the Year – Fiona Katauskas
  2. How low can you go? – Scandals, trials and corruption inquiries.
  3. And when the music stops you can… freeze! – Australian political figures and parties.
  4. We’re going on a treasure hunt – Government economic policy.
  5. Pass the interest rate parcel – Interest rates and living costs.
  6. Take the strain… ready… pull – The Voice referendum.
  7. Who’s a duck, duck, goose…? – International figures and events.
  8. Two words, five syllables – International relations.
  9. Hot potato! Hot potato! – The environment
  10. What’s in the party bag? – Miscellaneous topics.

How many cartoons are there?
100 framed works

How many cartoonists are there?
43

Behind the Lines is a travelling exhibition developed by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, proudly supported by the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to the national collections for all Australians.