Artist’s Statement
The horrific sex scandals pouring out of Canberra this year (2021) made my blood boil hotter than the planet: the rape allegations, the footage of liberal staffers masturbating on female ministers’ desks, the treatment of liberal staffer Brittany Higgins (allegedly raped on a couch in a minister’s office), the PM’s refusal to meet publicly with the women in the March 4 Justice … the list and lack of empathy from our Hillsong PM goes on and on. This found poem, ‘Thou Shalt Not Wank’ is the result of my outrage. It is made up of statements by our PM and Deputy PM, social commentary, and excerpts from christian religious prayers and texts I have amended in order to highlight the PM’s lack of empathy. You can read the written poem here.
Ali Whitelock’s latest poetry collection, the lactic acid in the calves of your despair is published by Wakefield Press and her debut collection, and my heart crumples like a coke can (also Wakefield Press) has a forthcoming UK edition by Polygon, Edinburgh. Her memoir, poking seaweed with a stick & running away from the smell, was launched to critical acclaim in Australia and the UK in 2009. Find more from Ali at her website.