ARE they part of a campaign to get Stormont's politicians talking again or subliminal advertising for a festival that fuses art and politics?
So far, the people behind a series phony election posters that have sprung up around Belfast have yet to show their hand, happy to revel in the social media conversations that the 'artwork' has prompted.
The posters in question have been appearing since the weekend on selected lampposts. With a local government election looming in under six weeks, most members of the public just assumed they were simply another bid to attract votes. But look at bit closer and you realise the branding is new and the message is somewhat different.
Using a stock image of a male politician, the posters urge the public not to cast their vote on behalf of the DUP, Sinn Féin or Alliance but are instead the work of the 'Sameold Sameold Party'.
There are variations on the theme too – one poster suggests the electorate 'Don't Think – Just Vote', while another says 'Scared of Them'uns; Vote for Us'uns'.
The candidate is variously referred to as 'Career Politician', 'Chancer' and 'Opportunist'.
Slugger O'Toole's Alan Meban said he had no idea about the posters' provenance but described them as a "great piece of agitprop'.
"I think it's an interesting exercise in making us think about how we vote and how we do politics," he told The Irish News.
"It's like they're trying to get us to examine our thought processes during an election campaign and to stir us into questioning why we vote a particular way."
Mr Meban noted that the posters don't direct the public to a particular website or campaign, suggesting they were standalone pieces of art rather than a part of a wider movement.
The appearance of the posters coincides with Imagine! Belfast, a festival of "ideas and politics" taking part at various venues across city.
The Irish News contacted the festival organisers yesterday but they failed to respond.
