This article summarizes the 2014 Behind the Lines political cartoon exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy. It discusses some of the themes and 80 cartoons by 33 cartoonists featured in the exhibition, including those focusing on the federal parliament and election of the coalition government. It highlights that Mark Knight from the Herald Sun won an award for his "Team Australia" cartoon. The exhibition showcases a range of cartoons from print and online media across Australia and will be on display until November 2015.

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What lies behind the lines
itty caricatures, gags, punchlines and
puns abound at this year’s Behind the
Lines 2014 exhibition at the Museum
of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament
House, Canberra.
Exhibition Curator, Dr Tania Cleary, says she
chose eight distinct themes which all give a clear
sense of the political story of 2014, with each
theme arranged in chronological sequence.
“There are 80 cartoons here by 33 cartoonists.
Some of the themes focus on Federal Parliament,
the election of the coalition to government,
key political members from the Labor and
Liberal parties, and especially Clive Palmer,” Dr
Cleary says.
“I think the biggest change seen in cartoons
over the years is the introduction of colour in
the pictures. Once it was simply black and white
with a gag line, now it’s colourful, with more
conversations between political characters, and
the gag lines are a bit more complex.”
This year features a broad political spectrum
of cartoons, with the curator saying that if
visitors were to line up all of the cartoons in a
row “you’d see a Bayeux Tapestry of Australian
politics”. Mark Knight, cartoonist for the
Herald Sun, won the Behind the Lines Political
Cartoonist of the Year award for his ‘Team
Australia’ cartoon which set the major superhero
theme for the exhibit.
“I think my Team Australia cartoons are a bit
of fun. With my cartoons I always like to show
a glimpse of real life, draw scenes or things
people are familiar with. As a cartoonist you’re
constantly listening to radio, watching TV,
reading the papers to keep up to date with the
latest issues. The actual drawing part is a bit of a
distillation process – it’s like all this information
has been poured into your head and you hope
it can make its way out through your pen as a
beautiful, successful political comment,” he says.
Work by cartoonists from across the
country from both print and online media are
featured in the exhibition. Behind the Lines
2014 is on display until November 2015. Open
daily 9am-5pm; for more information, visit
moadoph.gov.au
- Madeline Power
Mark Knight, cartoonist for the Herald Sun, won the Behind
the Lines Political Cartoonist of the Year award for his
‘Team Australia’ cartoon (below). Photo Gary Schafer
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