Teen artist striving for ‘hope’ during global wars banned from show

When Matilda Emmerich, 16, painted an angel in a dark place, surrounded by flags of several countries, she intended it to be an image of hope. Along with a poem expressing the same theme, she submitted her work to the open-age art category of her local agricultural show. The next day, one of the show’s organisers phoned to tell her it was too physically heavy to include in the exhibition.

It wasn’t an unusually big piece, so she queried that, and was then told the frame was coming apart. Eventually, she says she was told the work was too dangerous to display at the show in Hawkesbury, about 60 kilometres north-west of Sydney.

Detail of Where Hope Sits, a painting by 16-year-old Matilda Emmerich. The work weighed 4.5 kilograms and measured 57cm x 76cm.Credit: Matilda Emmerich

Called Where Hope Sits, her picture features a young angel with a wounded wing. Strewn around him are the bloodied, tattered flags of countries including Ukraine, Russia, Australia, Israel, Palestine, China, the US, the EU, Germany and the Aboriginal flag.

The Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association (HDAA) committee issued a statement detailing why the piece had been rejected.

“We had received multiple complaints from people dropping off artwork about Matilda’s artwork and the image of their flags being desecrated. As per the prime minister’s office ‘the image of the flag should not be covered with other words, illustrations or objects’,” the statement read.

“As Hawkesbury show is recognised as being a family event, it was not considered appropriate the art being displayed.”

A rule in the show’s terms and conditions was also cited: “The HDAA has the right not [to] hang works it considers inappropriate”.

Emmerich says she was encouraged to submit a landscape painting next year.

According to the committee, between one and five works are rejected each year, usually because of wet paint or broken frames.

Emmerich was surprised her work would not appear and has been told the issue “was to do with the flags”.

“It was very deliberate to try and do it from a neutral view ... I’m not picking a side in any of the conflicts.

“I would like to say that maybe there are valid concerns relating to safety ... but at the same time, where do you draw the line?

“I understand such artwork may evoke discomfort in some people, however I don’t believe certain individuals’ perception of the piece should prevent the general public from being able to see it.”

The Hawkesbury Show, to be held this weekend, includes a wood chop, animal shows, a dance competition and an art competition, divided into open, junior and school categories.

A keen artist and an ambassador with not-for-profit arts organisation HART Youth, Emmerich says the work is “inspired by a lot of the things going on in the world right now”.

Despite global conflicts and climate change, she remains positive about the future. “If we don’t have hope, what do we have? Even when things are pretty dark, I do have hope. That’s what the painting is about.”

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