Media Release
A Celebration of Whimsy and Satire!
18 June 2004
The satiric barb behind a Ron Tandberg cartoon, the whimsy of a Michael Leunig etching, and the wacky observations of Kaz Cooke. Most of us start the day by perusing the daily newspaper and admiring the cartoonist’s perspective on the world over a cup of tea!
This year The Age and the State Library of Victoria both celebrate their 150th anniversaries. To mark these important milestones, The Age, in association with the Library, presents The Age of Cartooning, an exhibition of more than 100 works on paper by many of the cartoonists published in The Age since the 1950s.
The exhibition opens on 2 July 2004 at the State Library of Victoria and features the work of eighteen prominent cartoonists, including John Spooner, Michael Leunig, Ron Tandberg, Bruce Petty, Arthur Horner, Les Tanner, Andrew Dyson and Cathy Wilcox. Two multimedia presentations extend the number of images to a further 80 on display.
‘The images by the cartoonists contribute to the documentation of our social history – they are an important source and are recognised as valid social commentary. About half of the works selected by the key artists come from the Library’s Pictures Collection,’ said CEO and State Librarian, Anne-Marie Schwirtlich.
‘This is a unique exhibition which celebrates the work of some wonderfully talented people who have provided great enjoyment and stimulation to readers of The Age over many years. The Age is delighted to be associated with the State Library of Victoria in our 150th anniversary year’, Editor-in-chief of The Age, Michael Gawenda said.
The works give an insight into the significant issues and events that have affected Australians during the last 150 years and cover a wide range of topics. The cartoonists’ work illustrates their ideas about nationhood, war and peace, elections, the environment, economy, society and self, the media, sport and culture.
The Age of Cartooning is open from 2 July until 19 September, 2004 in the Keith Murdoch Gallery, State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne. Open daily 10am-5pm. Admission is free.
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