Anthony Lister

Posted by Gabriel Knowles


The Blackmail dropped by Anthony Lister’s Sydney studio last week where the affable artist gave us the low down on his upcoming show and how viewing Australian culture upon returning home from his Brooklyn base has shaped it.

It’s coming together – it’ll all be revealed when the context of where the show is. It’s in the sex district of Kings Cross and it’s about stereotypes of males in Australian society and the male identity. I see a lot of wankers in that area so I’m holding a mirror up to their faces.

I’m really attracted to misguided youth and our attraction to the outlaw. It’s a constant in Australian culture. When I was in school I liked seeing people get in trouble and I wasn’t seeing it I’d create the spectacle and get in trouble. It’s schadenfreude.

I think the sex industry is a completely valid and can be a beautiful thing but in Australian culture it’s mistaken for sexism and as degrading women. I think there’s a problem with a lot of mens attitudes. I’ve got the opportunity to put works in a physical context where they can be taken as a relevant comment on society.

This work is built for the place and those concepts have always been in my work – I’ve always painted about criminals or from nudie magazines. I’ve always tried to resolve what the conceptional rationale is. I guess I’ve still got more questions than answers.

Shows opens Friday 17 July at 77 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross.