Kangaroos 1971

Curator: Nicholas Monro's "Kangaroos" presents a stylized depiction of the Australian marsupials against a backdrop with what appears to be soldiers. Editor: My first thought? This feels so...deceptively simple. There's a playfulness, almost childlike, but something feels off, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. The juxtaposition is key; the seemingly innocent, cartoonish kangaroos existing alongside figures of conflict forces us to question narratives of national identity and power dynamics. Editor: Exactly! It's like a bright, sunny day with a storm brewing just beneath the surface. I wonder if Monro intended to make us feel so uneasy with these familiar symbols. Curator: I think that’s a useful response. By presenting this imagery in such a flattened, graphic style, Monro perhaps sought to lay bare the underlying tensions within representations of Australia. Editor: Hmmm. Leaving me contemplating the relationship between nature, nationhood, and the subtle intrusion of...well, everything.