Erica Seccombe

Sunshine Coast National Art Prize 2026 - Finalist

_{Image courtesy of artist.}

Erica Seccombe
NSW

Operation inflation
2026
20 digital pigment-ink prints on paper
155 x 155cm

"Operation Inflation” is a series of inkjet prints that draws on the history of poster art and protest graphics. Inspired by the inflatable spectacle of the American No Kings demonstrations, I have recreated images that circulated on social media and news outlets. This work explores the subversive use of humour within protest culture opposing authoritarianism and anti-immigration rhetoric. Protesters risk their lives and face armed troops with satire and absurdity, transforming public space into a platform for collective critique, where laughter serves as a form of resistance. The works highlight how visual language spreads quickly through protest movements, transitioning between street, screen, and print. Although rooted in imagery from demonstrations in the USA, the issues this work addresses, such as rising xenophobia and the decline of democratic values, resonate well beyond national borders and suggest that the tensions driving these protests are increasingly global, affecting all our lives.