Day 10: Rainbow skulls

We left Armidale today to travel to our next destination, Tenterfield. On the way out we visited the New England Regional Art Museum. We had heard much about it and it came highly recommended. It didn't disappoint.
 
One of the temporary exhibitions was called ‘Rainbow’ by artist Alun Rhys Jones. In his installation he has created a fake gift shop full of bright graphics and merchandise, including T-shirts, wallpaper and mugs. This is meant to reflect on how rainbow colours are utilised to attract the pink dollar of LGBTQIA+  consumers. All of the merchandise items show a skull in various pantone colours. In the explanation of his installation he wrote
 
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell described this rainbow capitalism as damaging to LGBTQIA+ communities. “Sometimes it feels like a box ticking PR exercise to make the company look good and win over LGBTQIA+ consumers. It is very off putting and damaging. Many of us feel exploited. This virtue signalling and apparent support often disguises the fact that many companies do not have in place cultures of acceptance and tolerance and, when push comes to shove, discard their support over profit.”
 
The extras show the total installation and the sign at the front of the art museum.