Item Type: Photograph

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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This item is licenced for use under a Creative Commons Non Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International) copyright license. It allows users to copy and share the item in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes, provided the item is not changed in any way, it is attributed to the City of Sydney and the author/creator (where known), and a copyright notice is included. Full licence terms are available from Creative Commons. No warranties or other rights are provided by the licence.

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Nuclear Space Invaders, Woolloomooloo Mural, Harmer Street Woolloomooloo, 1982

Description

Unique IDA-01211830SeriesWoolloomooloo Mural Project Records, 1979-1982DateBetween 1st January 1982 and 31st December 1982Date qualifieryear onlyFormatPhotograph - TransparencyDescriptionView of mural titled, Nuclear Space Invaders, designed and painted by Ruth Waller (1955-). The imagery of the mural is based on the popular and influential video game Space Invaders by Taito, played in video arcades throughout the 1980s. This is set against the threat of nuclear war. Target planes fire missiles over a map showing the US satellite communications and signals intelligence bases of Pine Gap, Nurrungar, and NW Cape in South Australia indicated with USA flag and country markers. In the centre of a mural is business man above city skyscraper buildings and a pregnant woman with a nuclear cloud and smoke behind them. Above the woman's head is text, 'Bomb Sweet Bomb'. A landscape with excavators is being mined for Fuel at the bottom. Along the lower edge is text, 'Play Nuclear Invaders Insert Coins $'. Signed and dated by Ruth Waller at right edge.

In October 1973, Australia was placed on nuclear alert by the United States government, with Pine Gap being a target. The US did not alert the Australian government at the time.

One of the first set of renewable billboards that were painted onto heavy litho paper with Collies offset inks which were then glued to the metal panels. The idea was that these could be pasted over with new images on billboard paper every twelve months. Later the artists realised how costly and labour intensive the replacement would be, and how short-lived the adhesive durability of paper glued on expanding and contracting metal. As a consequence the first series of ink on paper billboards were removed in 1984, and a new set of six murals painted with enamel on metal were commissioned in 1984.

John Delacour photographed the mural while it was in a warehouse in Harmer Street which the Housing Commission provided as a studio space for the duration of the project.LanguageNo linguistic content - Not applicable (zxx)Author/creatorArtist: Ruth WallerPhotographer: John Delacour

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Digitised recordYes

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Address

Street nameHarmerStreet typeStreetSuburbWoolloomoolooPostcode2011StateNew South WalesCountryAustralia

Access

Public access statusRestricted original (digital copy available)Public access noteWhen using this image please acknowledge the photographer, and that it is provided courtesy of the City of Sydney Archives.

Data quality

Authenticity & integrityThis series was donated. The donors provided information to the City Archives when this collection was acquired. It has formed the basis of the descriptive information added by volunteers and City of Sydney staff.

Relationships

BoxCSA119617PlaceWoolloomooloo Mural Project

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Nuclear Space Invaders, Woolloomooloo Mural, Harmer Street Woolloomooloo, 1982

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