Peter Drew’s Iconic ‘AUSSIE’ Poster Series Arrives At The Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum is launching a free outdoor exhibition of Peter Drew’s compelling AUSSIE poster series. Commencing August 28, visitors to the museum’s iconic Wharf 7 forecourt will be able to peruse the likely familiar collection of one of Australia’s most iconic public art projects.

The posters, widely considered an indictment of divisive “monoculture” rhetoric, each prominently feature a photoreal portrait of an individual of a distinct gender, race, and/or ethnic/cultural background. This diversity is juxtaposed with an unchanging caption shared by every poster: the word “AUSSIE” in bold text. 

The exhibition comes at a time when xenophobia is rising in popularity, and political parties like Pauline Hanson’s One Nation are portraying immigrants and other cultures as a threat to Australia’s national identity. Indeed, the debate over who gets to call themselves an “aussie” has never been more topical. Thus, the open-air exhibition encourages its visitors to reflect on Australian identity, belonging, and the many migration stories that have shaped the nation.

Australia “Has Always Been Shaped” By Immigrants

Australian National Maritime Museum Director and CEO Ms Daryl Karp AM has said the public exhibition is an important opportunity to invite respectful dialogue about multiculturalism and belonging.

“Australia’s multicultural make-up is fundamental to who we are and how we live,” Karp said. “As the National Maritime Museum, we tell stories of movement, migration, and connection, stories that remind us that Australia has always been shaped by people arriving, settling, contributing, and belonging. 

“Peter Drew’s AUSSIE posters are powerful because they make a simple but profound statement about who we recognise as part of the Australian story.”

Peter Drew is an Adelaide-born artist and activist, widely recognised for his AUSSIE poster series. Commencing in 2016, the project was not only recognised by galleries and official institutions, but also involved installing the posters in prominent public areas, including intersections and city walls.