The artist, who admitted to desecrating one of Australia’s most famous paintings at a gas company protest, says police raided her home in a “massive overreach”.
Joana Partica earlier this month pleaded guilty to criminal damages after spray-painting the Woodside Energy logo on Frederick McCubbin’s “Down on His Luck” at the Western Australia Art Gallery. He was convicted by the Perth Magistrate’s Court.
She was fined $2,637 and ordered to pay the art gallery $4,821.08 in compensation. Thanks to crowdfunding, her fine was paid within 24 hours of her, Partyka said.
McCubbin’s work was protected by a clear plastic sheet and was not damaged by the spray paint.
The ceramic artist and illustrator said her Perth home was raided by anti-terrorism police on Friday morning.
She says police officers confiscated her cell phone, laptop and notebook, and took pictures of other belongings.
Partyka suggested the raid was planned to intimidate the activist group Disrupt Burrup Hub, to which she belongs.
It further shows that “Woodside and the big fossil fuel polluters have total control over our government and police.”
“I have already pleaded guilty and was convicted of the conduct I did at the WA Art Gallery last month and have already paid in full the fines and excessive costs charged for the conduct,” Partyka said. .
“This ensuing raid by National Security counter-terrorism police was baffling and unwarranted, and shows how desperate the government is to cover up its reliance on Woodside.”
Western Australian Police have sought comment.
Partika reiterated her group’s intention to disrupt industrial development on the rock art-rich Burlap Peninsula.
She will not be deterred by “fear tactics,” she told AAP.
“This issue is obviously very important to me, to do everything I’ve done in regards to art gallery actions,” she said.
“I’m not going to allow what a protective racket is essentially on behalf of the government.
Disrupt Burrup Hub seeks to halt industrial development on the Burrup Peninsula, about 30 kilometers west of Karratha in the Pilbara region, including the expansion of Woodside Energy’s Pluto gas plant.
Known as Murjuga to its traditional owners, the Burlap Peninsula is home to the world’s largest and oldest collection of petroglyphs.
Graphic designer Tahlia Stolarski also painted the Woodside logo on the front door of the Western Australian Parliament on Tuesday.