Barracuda watchers

Detailed background composed of complex ink line work and the unmarked figures of a woman walking with a child outlined in blue ink in the central foreground. A drone is presented in the upper right corner of the image as a small gold silhouette. Since 2001, Australia's Defence forces have been involved in the war in Afghanistan, using various forms of modern Warfare technology including most recently, unmanned aerial systems (UAV, also known as drones). The use of UAV has been controversial, with critics arguing that as machines, drones cannot discriminate between combatants and innocent bystanders. In Mutton's work, the drone hovers in a mysterious space without clear definition between land and sky. The drone contains an unseen presence (a remote pilot) reminding the viewer of their far-ranging capabilities. The hovering machine is juxtaposed with seemingly everyday activities, creating a sinister feel, and encouraging the viewer to imagine what it would be like to live under the constant presence of modern war technology.