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Art Processors celebrates Australian decoding heritage

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National Museum Australia Decoded

DECODED is the latest exhibition at the National Museum of Australia

Art Processors, the experiential design consultancy, has created a new interactive experience driven by the true stories of code crackers for the National Museum of Australia.

The museum’s latest installation, ‘DECODED: 75 years of the Australian Signals Directorate’, examines the ventures and achievements of the national institution. The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) undertook critical work for the country, collecting intelligence about foreign adversaries while keeping the country’s citizens and secrets safe.

The ASD was created as a result of World War II to aid the country’s code-breaking efforts. The organisation developed over the ensuing 75 years, now being responsible for foreign signals intelligence, as well as protective and disruptive cyber operations. 

With the mission statement of ‘Reveal their secrets – protect our own’, the ASD has been a leading institution in mastering and pioneering technology to counter potential threats to Australia.

Project director for the award-winning Art Processors firm, Jamie Houge, says that the exhibition has real potential by allowing visitors to meet the faces behind ASD. The exhibition explores the stories, characters and incidents of the organisation in an innovative way, exploring their critical work and experiences. 

“A celebration of amazing work”

This anniversary exhibition covers the heritage of the organisation from the 1940s’ wartime period to the modern era. Key topics include early cipher, codes and encryption; the Cold War; the evolution of the Five Eyes international intelligence partnership and key military operations. Other timely areas include ASD’s technological evolution, confrontation against terrorism post 9/11, and contemporary cyber-crime challenges faced by the country. 

Amongst the exhibits are a code-cracking M1 three-roto ENIGMA cipher machine, and the Speakeasy, a device developed in the 1990s which uses voice encryption to secure telephone calls over public networks.

Houge adds that through the exhibition’s design, visitors can trigger hidden moments and scan codewords to ‘intercept a signal’, which reveals an added layer of storytelling. 

“It brings all of us great joy to share the history of ASD,” says Rachel Noble PSM, director-general of the ASD. “So many of our former and current staff have never been able to tell anyone much about the work they have done. The exhibition is a celebration of their amazing work over 75 years and I am sure for more than 75 years to come.” 

Australian Signals Directorate ASD 75 Years

Dr Mathew Trinca, director of the National Museum of Australia, adds: “The history of Australian Signals Directorate mirrors that of the maturing and growth of the Australian nation in so many ways.

“We hope all Australians who are able to visit the exhibition will leave with an appreciation of the  role of this crucial, but often unrecognised, work by the men and women at the cyber security  frontline.”

DECODED: 75 Years of the Australian Signals Directorate is open at the National Museum of Australia from 1 April through to 24 July 2022.

Last year, Art Processors led the $15m creative transformation of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame at the Outback Visitor Centre.

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Adam Whittaker

Adam studied Marketing and Advertising Management at Leeds Beckett University. Originally from Lancashire and now based in Norfolk, UK, you can usually find him appreciating art deco design or on a roller coaster.

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