Greens MP lashes One Nation’s bid to remove transgender artwork from Art Gallery of SA

The Greens say Sarah Game’s campaign to remove two nude artworks – one of a transgender man – from the Art Gallery is hypocritical, as debate in parliament gets heated.

Greens MLC Robert Simms has unleashed a scathing attack on “hypocritical censorship” by One Nation’s Sarah Game, lashing a campaign to remove two nude artworks — one of a transgender man — from the Art Gallery.

On Tuesday, Ms Game moved a motion calling for family-friendly zones to be implemented at the South Australian Art Gallery’s public exhibitions, a fortnight after launching a petition to have two “controversial” sculptures removed.

One of the artworks is a life-size bronze sculpture of transgender activist Buck Angel, called ‘Buck with Cigar’, by British artist Marc Quinn, while the other is Australian artist Patricia Piccinini’s ‘Big Mother’, depicting a breastfeeding humanoid creature.

Big Mother was on display from 2010 – 2011, when it was first acquired, it was on intermittent display five times between 2011 – 2018 and has been in place since 2023.

Buck with Cigar has been on display since 2011.

One Nation MLC Sarah Game has raised the alarm over an "inappropriate" sculpture display at the Art Gallery of SA. Picture: Supplied

‘Big Mother’ has been on display at the gallery intermittently since 2010. Picture: Supplied

In moving her motion, Ms Game attacked “gender ideology” and said the works featured highly sexual and adult themes.

“I choose not to give in to extreme demands for society to accept subjective reality claims,” Ms Game said, in reference to the concept of gender identity.

But Mr Simms said Ms Game’s “crusade to cancel artwork” was hypocritical, labelling it the “latest terrain in the culture wars of the far right”.

“Senator Pauline Hanson has claimed ‘cancel culture is killing debate and freedom of speech’ in this country,” Mr Simms said.

“One Nation certainly has a bizarre world view. They believe it’s okay to promote racist or transphobic views – they argue that those offensive views shouldn’t be censored, but apparently exposure to provocative art is considered too much.

“That’s a bridge too far? It’s a complete nonsense.”

Mr Simms urged the government to “resist the temptation” to agree to move the works, saying it could amount to a step toward censoring public spaces.

“Perhaps Ms Game believes statues (in Florence or Rome) should be covered up or children should be blindfolded or told to avert their eyes as they walk through these classical cities,” Mr Simms said.

“Or is art just considered ‘adult only’ when it depicts a transgender body?

“Dictating what people can read and the artwork they can consume is dangerous territory in our democracy.”

Greens MLC Robert Simms has lambasted a motion from One Nation’s Sarah Game, saying it amounts to censorship. NCA NewsWire/Morgan Sette

Ms Game moved a motion in parliament to create an 'adults-only' area at the Art Gallery. Picture: Parliament of South Australia

Ms Game said she had been contacted by a concerned constituent who was left “shocked” by the statues during a visit to the gallery with their seven-year-old nephew — taking to social media to launch a petition to have them moved to an “adults-only” area.

When the petition was launched, fellow parliamentarian Frank Pangallo was quick to jump in defence of the works, saying the “stunning sculptures” had been critically acclaimed in their decade at the gallery.

He questioned Ms Game’s decision to publish the “offending” statues on her social media unedited, saying they could be seen by “people of all ages who follow her”.

“You aren’t serious are you, Sarah? Nudes have been part of the art world and artistic expression since the start of civilisation,” Mr Pangallo said.

“Should galleries, museums and plazas in say Egypt, France, Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Italy, Greece or wherever discreetly cover up ancient and modern masterpieces and statues on public display?

“You’d better send your petition to Florence where a bold and brazen giant-sized version of Michaelangelo’s naked David overlooks the square near the Uffizi Gallery full of nudes.

“As Henri Matisse once wrote: Creativity takes courage.”

A counter-petition has been launched after Ms Game raised the alarm over the artworks. Picture: change.org

Last Wednesday evening, a counter-petition – called “Save Big Mother and Buck” – was launched, describing the works as “deeply moving”, meaningful and important for transgender representation.

Organiser Molly Schofield said any push to remove the sculptures was “outrageous”.

“Not only having a powerful moving story, Big Mother is a deeply loved artwork throughout all of Adelaide … she is quite a sight to see and so many people will be heartbroken if she is removed,” Ms Schofield said.

“Buck represents a trans man and is based on a true story.

“Many people in the trans community deeply appreciate having an art piece like Buck because it helps them see more trans representation and feel safer among the community.”

An AGSA spokesperson said the works would not be removed from public display, saying the organisation firmly supported the rights of artists and believed in “preserving and celebrating diverse cultural expressions”.

In a response to Ms Game’s petition, one AGSA visitor said they were “happy and proud” that the Buck with Cigar sculpture was on display.

“I just want to say I love that sculpture of Buck, (and) I am so sorry that the culture wars are headed this way,” they said.