When an MP from the bush found his election signs tarnished by permanent marker, he didn't expect a local gallery to exhibit them.
The NSW member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, was taking down corflute placards near Delungra when he came across three particular signs.
"I wouldn't characterise them as defaced. I would say they've been enhanced," he said.
"Driving up to them, you see that something's amiss from a distance and you go, 'Oh no, what am I going to discover here?' and as I got closer it was obviously quite hilarious.
"Some people might think, 'Oh, that's bad they're defacing your signs'. But actually, I think the artist has done a pretty good job — very clever."
Mr Marshall deliberately put the signs up high, so was impressed by the artist's tenacity.
"They would've had to have thought about it and actually brought a ladder so that they could reach the signs," he said.
"[They] obviously took their time in doing the work.
"I just think it's quite funny."
'Just a bit of fun'
Co-owner of the Pepper Box Gallery Laura Cush — from nearby Warialda – came across Mr Marshall's social media post about the signs and immediately wanted them for her space.
"It's a little bit like the mystery of Banksy," she said.
"We don't know who did it, but they've taken the time to stand there with a sharpie and show their artistic style.
"It's all the different hats that I guess Adam probably has to wear. Sometimes he's got to be a wizard and sometimes he might be something else."
Ms Cush says the signs will be framed and hung as a feature wall, and will complement other graffiti art in the gallery.
"Art doesn't have to be serious," she said.
"There wasn't anything derogatory about the art that they did.
"It was just a bit of fun and that's how it should be. It should put a smile on your face."
Mr Marshall had planned to keep them as "mementos" on his own wall but was happy to share them.
"Over the years, I've had various people paint me or photograph me, but usually done quite seriously for portrait prizes," he said.
"But this is unique … and [I've] never [been] portrayed as those three individuals.
"I hope that people get a bit of a laugh out of it as I've got a laugh out of it."
The signs will be on exhibition at the Pepper Box Gallery from Monday.
