Wild child breaks free for Fringe
For UniSA School of Art lecturer David Blaiklock, the Adelaide Fringe isn’t just a time for celebration; it’s a call to action.
"The Fringe is a time when Adelaide throws off its conservative exterior and embraces counter cultures of all types – a time to experience the wilder side of life," Blaiklock said.
"That’s what my poster depicts; the inner wild child of Adelaide breaking free from its sleepy exterior, using a megaphone to call the city to action."
Mr Blaiklock was the winner of the 2009 Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition, and having entered five times previously was thrilled to have his work selected this year.
"It is a great feeling to know that your work has become the symbol for a world-renowned festival," he said.
David joins a long list of UniSA alumni to have their artwork selected as the official Fringe poster, including Harriet Morgan (2008) and Joel Catchlove (2000).
His work is often laden with political messages and his striking style, which blends the look of lino printing with pencil sketching, wowed the judges, and David is very happy to see his work in the public domain this Fringe.
"One of the things that really interests me is the way this poster has become a public piece of art – it’s not my concept anymore and now is open to interpretation and reinvention in any number of ways. I’m encouraging my students to keep an eye out for it and watch it as it evolves."
Already a Facebook group has been started to track the poster and photographs are rolling in.
"One of my students has taken the poster overseas with them and it’s been popping up in all sorts of places including the Great Wall of China, and I’m sure we’ll see some other amazing interpretations and adaptations during the opening parade."