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X-Rated; an exhibition on Canberra’s rampant sex industry.

By Richard Graham

When I first discovered that the Canberra Museum and Gallery was holding an exhibition titled X-Rated; The Sex Industry in the ACTI was a little surprised. Call me naive, but I had no idea that the ACT had been known as the sex and porn capital of Australia. So I was intrigued to find out more.

Well designed posters make it a really engaging exhibition. Courtesy of Canberra Museum and Gallery.

Going alone to a sex exhibition was something I was not entirely keen on doing. But my attempts to coerce and persuade friends had failed, so I sheepishly slipped past reception at the museum and made my way to a large heavy door that was unmistakably labelled ‘X-Rated; 18+ Only’. For a moment there was a sense of anticipation as to what was on the other side, it seemed a little mysterious. Upon opening the door, I was a little surprised to discover, it seemed like a normal exhibition, with an edge.

Satirical cartoons, X-Rated VCR covers and promotional porn posters line the walls and cabinets of the room. I make my way methodically around the rectangular space. The exhibition has a focus on the 80’s and 90’s, which was a turbulent time for the sex industry. Commonwealth laws restricting the production and sale of pornography in all states meant that producers moved their business to the ACT. Meaning a conflict between social values of some of the community and economic benefits struck the ACT Government.

A poster that created during the time the sex work industry in Canberra was becoming regulated.
A poster and slogan that was created during the time the sex work industry in Canberra was becoming regulated. Courtesy of Canberra Museum and Gallery.

The exhibition also looks into the role sex workers have played in recent history in Canberra and how the industry has come to be a regulated, safe and beneficial practice. A very interesting short documentary on the benefits how those with a disability utilise sex workers is available at the exhibition.

Going alone no longer seemed so strange. The museum provides a fantastic insight into how the sex industry and government have interacted over the years and come to be in the position it is now. As I walked the room I would bounce from intense laughter at the satirical cartoons and awareness posters to astute focus at the government interactions . Sure, it’s a little raunchy and does have some pretty explicit imagery but it is well worth a visit to fully understand how Canberra got its reputation as ‘Pornberra’.

 

For more information on the exhibition visit: http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/

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