Picturing Politics: Australian Prime Ministers 1-16

In 2016, the Parliamentary Library acquired a set of prints from the series one to eight: Australia’s First Prime Ministers by Canberra artist Alison Alder.

The prints were produced during her fellowship with the then Australian Prime Ministers Centre at the Museum of Australian Democracy. In 2020 Alder was appointed as a Parliamentary Library Associate and created a second print series, covering Prime Ministers nine to sixteen. This project was completed in 2022 and the Parliamentary Library acquired a full set of prints.

Alison Alder’s print series Australian Prime Ministers 1–16 aims to reignite interest in the achievements and character of the first sixteen Australian Prime Ministers — the leaders who served the nation in the first half of the twentieth century. By presenting historical images in the form of a modern-day political poster, Alder’s prints offer a creative take on Australia’s early political history.

Picturing Politics: Australian Prime Ministers 1-16 features each print alongside an artist statement and description for each Prime Minister.

About the artist:

Alison Alder is a visual artist whose work blurs the line between studio and social/political art practice.

Product details:

Author: Dr Dianne Heriot

Publisher: Department of Parliamentary Services 

Dimensions: 200 x 5 x 320 mm

Pages: 38

Format: Paperback

Publication date: 2023

ISBN: 9781922656131