Where do retired politicians go when they’re voted out? A shed in suburban Canberra for now, but these redundant political puppets are looking for a forever home.
The first of five, Tony Abbott, was commissioned in 2014 by political activist Matthew Armstrong and as governments came and went, four more puppets followed: Malcolm Turnbull, Barnaby Joyce, Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison.
Puppet creator (not marionettes or Muppets) Hilary Talbot and Matthew would dearly love these past-their-use-by-date puppets, who have retired from political protests, to be housed permanently at the Museum of Australian Democracy.
There is no talk yet of creating an Anthony Albanese puppet because Hilary thinks Albanese would be tricky to capture.
“Abbott was the most fun because he’s got a face that is characterised easily, it’s more angular than some,” Hilary says. “I think Albanese would be quite hard because there’s something about the way his lip curls that is very recogniseable but other than that there’s not too many things that stands out.”
The brilliant engineering of the Tony Abbott puppet is that his ears fold out for a protest rally and fold back for easy storage. The Scott Morrison puppet has detachable eyelids (for protest rallies when he is posed sunbaking in Hawaii).
Hilary is a master of her craft, her eye-catching puppets photographed widely, published in US newspapers and commissioned by other activist groups including GetUp!.
After nine years, the Tony Abbott puppet is ageing but remains in good condition thanks to Hilary’s durable manufacturing technique. Due to an outer latex covering, the Tony Abbott puppet is climate change proof and impervious to the elements.
If you’re inside Scott Morrison’s foam head, you stare down his nostrils to see where you’re going. Now there’s an interesting image.
“Matt’s brief initially was that they were to be highly recognisable but neutral, they weren’t to cause anger,” Hilary says. “A lot of political puppets are made to rile people up, but Matt wanted to aim it squarely at the swinging voter, to get people to change their minds.”
It was imperative to capture Scott Morrison’s smirk, Hilary says.
“That little lop-sided smirk, I think I got it.”
The heads are 70cvm in diameter (plus hair) so hopefully the Museum of Australian Democracy has room for them.
CW contacted the Museum of Australian Democracy for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
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