SNAKE OIL
The ceramic installation Snake Oil offers a thought-provoking commentary on the disconnect between the marketing of alcohol and the reality faced by many Australians. The reference to "snake oil" in the title evokes the idea of false promises—just as snake oil was once marketed as a cure-all remedy despite its lack of efficacy, alcohol marketing often promotes it as a source of happiness and social desirability, ignoring the damaging consequences for many individuals and communities.
The work invites the viewer to critically reflect upon Australia’s drinking culture and consider its broader social impact. Statistics from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey found that 1 in 5 Australians (approximately 4.6 million) over the age of 14, were verbally abused, physically abused, or put in fear by someone under the influence of alcohol in the past 12 months and 2.4 million Australian women who experienced harm from someone under the influence of alcohol in 2022/23.
Snake Oil serves as a reminder of the personal and societal costs of alcohol misuse. The installation prompts us to reflect on the gap between alcohol’s glamorous portrayal in advertisements and the destructive effects it can have on individuals, families, and communities across Australia
The ceramic installation Snake Oil offers a thought-provoking commentary on the disconnect between the marketing of alcohol and the reality faced by many Australians. The reference to "snake oil" in the title evokes the idea of false promises—just as snake oil was once marketed as a cure-all remedy despite its lack of efficacy, alcohol marketing often promotes it as a source of happiness and social desirability, ignoring the damaging consequences for many individuals and communities.
The work invites the viewer to critically reflect upon Australia’s drinking culture and consider its broader social impact. Statistics from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey found that 1 in 5 Australians (approximately 4.6 million) over the age of 14, were verbally abused, physically abused, or put in fear by someone under the influence of alcohol in the past 12 months and 2.4 million Australian women who experienced harm from someone under the influence of alcohol in 2022/23.
Snake Oil serves as a reminder of the personal and societal costs of alcohol misuse. The installation prompts us to reflect on the gap between alcohol’s glamorous portrayal in advertisements and the destructive effects it can have on individuals, families, and communities across Australia
Snake Oil, Porcelain Gin bottle replicas and fired copper wire, 2025; Photo: Lyn Nixon