Police Union call for removal of ‘F*** the police’ art from GOMA

The boss of the Queensland Police Union has slammed the Gallery of Modern Art’s defence of a piece that portrays violence against police.

The boss of the Queensland Police Union has slammed the Gallery of Modern Art’s defence of a piece that portrays violence against police as “woke, tone-deaf virtue-signalling”.

The highly controversial work – a brightly painted motorcycle helmet – bears the slogan “FTP” (f*** the police) along with a burning police car, and forms part of a sub exhibit at Queensland’s taxpayer-funded, publicly viewable Gallery of Modern Art.

The union has written to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk demanding the piece displayed at the state government-owned gallery be removed, claiming it provokes violence against police.

However, in a statement, QAGOMA defended the inclusion of the piece as freedom of speech and representing diversity.

“We acknowledge the strong feelings expressed by members of the community about an artwork in the display ‘Full Face: Artists’ Helmets’, currently showing at GOMA...” the statement said.

“To exhibit a work of art is not to endorse the work or the vision, ideas or opinions of the artist. Rather, it is to uphold the right of all to experience diverse visions and views.”

In response, Mr Leavers said: “This response from GOMA staff is not surprising, and is just more of the wokest, tone deaf, and insulting virtue signalling we expect from people who live in a bubble and if they think this is acceptable, these GOMA staff are sadly out of touch with real Queenslanders.

“The reality for GOMA is that displaying this helmet in a state government building is endorsement of its abusive anti-police sentiments.

“Obviously I’ve written to the Premier so hopefully cooler heads will prevail with the intervention of the premier and the minister in pulling their employees into line.”

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL STATEMENT FROM GOMA

A piece of art at GOMA with FTP standing for "F*** The Police".

In an email to the Premier and Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch, Police Union President and CEO Ian Leavers has this morning criticised the state government’s decision to allow the “highly inappropriate” artwork be displayed at GOMA.

He demanded answers as to how it came to be installed in the public gallery, as he called for its immediate removal and requested a full inquiry into the oversight of its installation.

“I, and indeed most police consider this helmet to be highly inappropriate to be displayed in

QAGOMA, a government-owned gallery funded by our taxpayer dollars,” Mr Leavers wrote.

“I respectfully request this helmet is withdrawn from display immediately.”

According to the artist, the works, called Defund the Police Helmet 2020, “protests against police brutality and movements for abolition of the prison industrial complex in favour of services that prevent, address and resolve harm within communities”.

Artwork by TextaQueen posted on Facebook by Townsville Detective Sergeant Tony Flanders.

It forms part of sub-exhibit Full Face: Artists’ Helmets, from the gallery’s most recent exhibition, The Motorcycle Design, Art, Desire.

Mr Leavers said the Union supported free speech, however has strongly criticised the decision to have works that incite police violence displayed in the tax payer funded gallery.

“We are not some modern day “anti free speech” puritans in the vain of the late Mary Whitehouse wanting the statue of David to be covered by a leaf,” he wrote.

“We simply think it is highly inappropriate for state government sanctioned exhibits to display, embrace and encourage imagery and displays inciting violence against police particularly among juveniles, and particularly at this current time in Queensland.

“The Queensland Police Union are strong believers in free speech and this person has,

unfortunately, every right to display their deeply offensive helmet, however this should not occur in a Queensland Government building paid for by police officers’ own taxpayer dollars.”

According to the Union, GOMA last year used a picture of the helmet on their social media page to promote anti-police sentiment to juveniles, while only one month later, the creator of the works facilitated a “Workshop and Talk” event, specifically targeted at teens aged 15-18.

The police Union are calling on the state government to apologise for inappropriate artwork displayed at Queensland’s state-funded art gallery, after artworks donning “FTP” were recently on show at the Gallery of Modern Art.

“In this current climate, where police are daily the victims of vicious assaults and lawlessness

committed by juvenile offenders, this approval by QAGOMA and, vicariously, the Arts Minister is yet another slap in the face for police by your government and this type of display and endorsement of the concepts by the state government only makes the job of police that much harder in fighting the uphill battle to keep the community safe,” Mr Leavers wrote.

“We as police often hear the old chestnut that displays such as this helmet ‘provoke thought and conversation’.

“We reject this sentiment completely, particularly in state government organisations

such as QAGOMA.

“Displays such as this do not encourage public discourse and only serve to divide our community and further marginalise, demonise and ostracise police and act as tacit justification and lead to a growing acceptance of violence against police, a concept I am sure you abhor as much as we do.”

The union are calling for a full inquiry into how the situation has occurred, as they call for an apology from Ms Enoch.

Ms Enoch said the decision to feature the artwork was not in her control but that the police deserved respect.

“Queensland police do an outstanding job in often difficult circumstances and I believe they deserve our respect,” she said.

“Politicians do not choose or reject works that are exhibited at GOMA.”

Opposition arts spokesman Dr Christian Rowan said: “The State Government has made an art form of hiding when Queenslanders are demanding answers.

“The hardworking men and women of the Queensland Police Service deserve a full and frank explanation as to why this is being displayed in the state-funded Gallery of Modern Art.”

GOMA STATEMENT IN FULL

We acknowledge the strong feelings expressed by members of the community about an artwork in the display ‘Full Face: Artists’ Helmets’, currently showing at GOMA.

TextaQueen, like many artists, uses works of art as a means through which to express strongly held political, and often controversial, points of view. Part of the mission of contemporary art galleries is to present challenging exhibitions that foster dialogue within the community.

Freedom of speech is one of the foundations of the Australian community, as it is in similar democracies around the world. The works QAGOMA presents may inspire, illuminate, challenge, and in some instances, offend. We recognise the privilege of living in a country where artists are free to create and exhibit their work,

To exhibit a work of art is not to endorse the work or the vision, ideas or opinions of the artist. Rather, it is to uphold the right of all to experience diverse visions and views. Just as artists hold disparate and diverse views, so too do the diverse audiences we welcome to the Gallery. One of our key roles is to represent that diversity.