Nick Bleasel has produced many political art works. While the design on this Avant card is not specifically political, it does represent the artist's sentiments towards the New South Wales Government in the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The artist was 'annoyed at how the state government was trying to get everyone to behave well' and created this art work as a result. He started by creating just a few of the posters at art school but the slogan became immediately effective, catching on quickly in the community and the media. Soon t-shirts and Avant Cards were made and before too long Gowings stores decided to order thousands of t-shirts for their staff to wear during the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Political posters have become an established area of the Powerhouse Museum collection. This object is both a welcome addition to the collection of Sydney 2000 Olympic Games material and also the political art work collection, which includes other examples of Nick Bleasel's work.

This postcard was designed by Nick Bleasel. Bleasel (b.1961) is a graduate of the National Art School, East Sydney, and of the UNSW College of Fine Arts. His work has appeared in several group exhibitions, as well as commercial contexts including staff t-shirts for Gowing Bros stores and posters for the Sydney City Council.

Made in Australia by Avant Card in 1999, a company that makes and distributes free postcards as a form of advertising.

Postcard, 'Keep taking your medication. Our Olympic visitors must suspect nothing', paper, designed by Nick Bleasel, made by Avant Card, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1999

Postcard-style Avant Card with black and white illustration on the front showing a caricature of five smiling people. Text in red letters reads; 'Keep taking your medication. Our Olympic visitors must suspect nothing'. The reverse has space for writing a postcard and includes the designers and makers details.

Designed: Bleasel, Nick;

Made: Avant Card; Sydney; 1999

Designers details on reverse include '"Keep Taking Your Medication" / © 1999 Nick Bleasel...'

2007/159/2

102 mm

150 mm