Osvaldo Budet issues content warning over Maitland hitching post

Artist Osvaldo Budet has installed a content warning sign in Maitland to address the controversial history of the local hitching post statue. The sign, placed by the artist, warns that the hitching post contains racist imagery that may cause “harm or distress,” particularly to Black, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and people of colour.

Budet’s exhibition at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery uses items like postcards and tea towels to reimagine the town's history, providing a detailed account of the hitching post’s troubled past. The artist’s work is informed by his upbringing in Puerto Rico, a territory with a history of colonialism and racism.

Maitland City Council has faced criticism regarding the sign. While the council noted that the display may “cause offence to members of the Maitland community who have long valued and admired the iconic hitching post statue,” officials stated they respect freedom of expression and the artist’s right to present the exhibition.