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Behind the Lines

Nordacious

Nordacious (James Hillier) is a Brisbane-based visual artist known for his retro, pop art–inspired portraits that blend pop culture with progressive politics. He has had three solo exhibitions, in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, and his work has been featured internationally, including on billboards in New York's Times Square, at the COP26 Climate Conference and in three Behind The Lines exhibitions at the Museum of Australian Democracy (2021, 2022 and 2023). In 2024 his illustrations lit up Old Parliament House for the Enlighten Festival. Nordacious has collaborated with high-profile names such as Elton John and Britney Spears, with his artwork featured on their limited-edition single cover of 'Hold Me Closer'.

nordacious.com

In a vintage-style illustration, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift holds up a wine glass and has a cat on her shoulder. Text reads, 'Childless cat lady.'

Childless Cat Lady

Nordacious, Instagram,

Journalist Laura Tingle is on the stand next to a judge in an ABC booth. The judge says, 'Ms. Tingle, you are charged with the crime of stating that water is wet. What say you?!'

Water is Wet

Nordacious, Instagram,

A man with wildly flowing long blonde hair, glasses and an extravagant smile holds a spoon with a piece of cake on it.

Let Them Sell Their 7th Yacht

Nordacious, Self-published,

Portrait of a woman with blonde hair wearing glasses, entitled 'Commissioner Holmes: Woman who is done with your mediocrity'.

Commissioner Holmes

Nordacious, Self-published,

A black T-shirt with an image of an orange-faced Donald Trump wearing orange and looking angry, his hands cling to metal bars in front of him, text says, 'Orange Is The New Trump'.

Orange Is the New Trump

Nordacious, Self-published

Pauline Hanson holds a flashlight, looking at her hand which says, 'Welcome to country'. Text on the left reads, 'There's a new boogeyman in town'.

There's a New Boogeyman in Town

Nordacious, Self-published,

Scott Morrison is on a boat in floodwaters dressed in Cronulla Sharks attire. 'Sharks' is replaced with 'Shirks'. Text reads 'I don't hold a bucket, mate.'

I Don't hold A Bucket, Mate

Nordacious, Self-published,

Text next to legs reads: 'BOYS! The world is on fire! Reefs are dying! Polar caps are melting! GET INSIDE!' Below, Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and Scott Morrison play with toy submarines, text reads: 'But... billion dollar nuclear submarines!'

Boys and Their Dumb Toys

Nordacious, Self-published,

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