Have we ever questioned a man’s right to power because of the generous dimensions of his arse? Is a man ever asked why he does not have children? When a dingo took her child, why was Lindy Chamberlain accused of witchcraft? And when Julia Gillard unseated a sitting Prime Minister, why was her act portrayed as treachery rather than ambition? Some questions are not really questions. They are part of a patriarchal enforcement system, reinstating a hierarchy that is entrenched in conceptions of motherhood, in limited gender roles, in traditional marriage and in the right to participate in the shaping of society. “Of Dingoes and Witch-Hunts” is inspired by familiar stories of Australian women and their journey to equality; powerful metaphors of suppression, persecution and an evolving struggle that speaks to our history, our culture and values. In a series of figurative paintings depicting themes of persecution, exile and misogyny, the artist draws on historical references to witch-hunting – as well as contemporary Australian stories – to illuminate the persistence of the witch-hunt in its modern-day incarnation. -Sharon Monagle, Artist Statement