Tony Briggs and David Pledger Launch Creative Project
The creators launched an alternate history art project in June 2026 exploring three centuries of Australian narratives.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Historical
Live Poll
Do you believe imagining alternate histories helps people address real-world mistakes?
Tony Briggs and David Pledger launched their creative project Address to the Nations in June 2026. The expansive work depicts an alternate history of Australia governed by a Ministry of Elders.
Why it matters
The creators developed this project to imagine a better future for the nation by critically identifying mistakes from the past. It uses counter-factual storytelling to challenge contemporary perspectives.
The project spans a narrative duration of 300 years and reflects a collaborative partnership between the creators that has lasted 25 years. Three of the 10 planned addresses have been completed.
The players
Tony Briggs
He is a creator and co-founder of the collaborative practice Tomorrow's Pasts.
David Pledger
He is a creator and co-founder of the collaborative practice Tomorrow's Pasts.
Tomorrow's Pasts
This is a collaborative practice established by Briggs and Pledger to produce cross-disciplinary works.
The details
The project uses alternate futurism, science fiction, and counter-factual storytelling across a portfolio that includes a visual art series, a television show, a theatre production, and a video game. One narrative element features a message stick being sent from 2063 into the past.
Timeline
The visual art series launched in June 2026.
Recorded addresses are set in 1940, 1981, and 2022.
The narrative includes a message stick sent from 2063.
Culture Shift
This project follows a pattern set by the Birrarangga Film Festival in its commitment to programming indigenous and alternate perspectives. The integration of speculative history into mainstream creative programmes reflects a growing societal interest in re-evaluating national identity through art.
Readers in Melbourne and Canberra can anticipate upcoming screenings of the visual art series in their local communities. The multi-platform nature of the project means the public can engage with the narrative through varied media including television, theatre, and gaming.
The takeaway
This project demonstrates how speculative fiction can provide a framework for citizens to reflect on historical grievances and national progress. Audiences are encouraged to consider how alternate history narratives can reshape their understanding of contemporary society.
What happens next
The visual art series is scheduled to be programmed into the Birrarangga Film Festival next year.
Further reading
Discover more about the intersection of art and heritage in the Historical section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Live Poll
Do you believe imagining alternate histories helps people address real-world mistakes?
