Behind the Lines 2021: The Year in Political Cartoons

Admission is free but bookings are encouraged. Book your General Museum Pass.

Make sense of the year that was in our annual exhibition celebrating the art of political cartooning.

This year’s Behind the Lines is our biggest yet, with more cartoons and cartoonists than ever before. Featuring work from the familiar faces and rising stars of political cartooning, including Glen Le Lievre, Cathy Wilcox, David Rowe, Meg O’Shea, Sarah Firth and James Hillier (aka Nordacious).

Prophecy & Chance: predicting the unpredictable

126 cartoons are tied together with one theme: Prophecy & Chance, inspired by a year of modelling, predictions, and continued unpredictability.

Take in the neon carnival graphics, have a cartoonist draw your fortune, and revisit 2021’s headlines, reimagined as stories like Political Life Lines and Mars Retrograde.

Something for every visitor

Enjoy Behind the Lines in a way that suits you.

• Make your way around the exhibition with the Family Trail, using clues to explore the cartoons and have a giggle in a group.
• Spin the wheel of fortune to see what’s in store for you.
• Make a paper fortune teller to take home and amaze your family and friends.
• Wave your hands over the crystal ball to have a cartoonist draw your fortune.

Access

Plan your visit with mobility, sensory, lighting and tactile information about our exhibitions and heritage spaces within Old Parliament House.  

Keen for more?

• Political cartooning is changing every day. Emerging artist Meg O’Shea shares her thoughts on the future of the industry in this Q&A.
• Check out all the cartoons from 2021 and previous years.
• Our exhibition curator shares her top five favourite cartoons from the exhibition.