Summary

Poster featuring an portrait image of Dorothy Sym Choon, produced by artist Peter Drew in 2016. It is part of his 'Aussie' poster series which use historical portrait images of Australians from diverse non-white backgrounds coupled with the word 'AUSSIE' to make a statement about definitions of Australian identity, citizenship and belonging in a contemporary context.

Dorothy Sym Choon was the Australian-born daughter of Chinese migrants who required an exemption to the Dictation Test, probably to re- enter Australia in the early twentieth century. Other posters feature Afghani, Indian and Australian First Peoples who also had to apply for exemptions to the White Australia policy. His posters have appeared around Melbourne and other Australian cities, provoking many public responses in the forms of counter-posters and graffiti.

Peter Drew is an Adelaide-based cross-media artist whose street art has raised his profile both as artist and social commentator.

Physical Description

Brown paper poster with upper case text printed in reverse on black dot output. Features a bust front view of a woman of Chinese appearance.

Significance

This set of posters by Peter Drew represents a significant and high profile community artist grassroots response to issues relating to refugees, racism and national identity. The posters have been highly visible and provocative interventions on the walls of Australian city streets. Drew's work has had a national presence, and been interacted with via imitation, graffiti, and layered forms of commentary.

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