Reports of Crime, Etc., Etc., is a video installation created by Carolyn McKay in response to her experience as an artist-in-residence at Newcastle’s Lock-Up Museum in 2009.

During the residency, McKay had access to a series of nineteenth century police reports. Created in a time before photography was widespread, the subjects of the reports were ‘wanted persons’ who were portrayed with vivid language and emotive descriptions.

McKay’s 2-channel video installation references the original police reports’ text and through morphing portraits, she creates an evocative artwork and portrayal of these characters of ‘ill-repute’, in a commentary on a unique aspect of nineteenth century Australian society.