Not A Souvenir: Tony Albert exhibit turns racist Aboriginalia into a powerful act of truth-telling
Louis Lim Aboriginal people of my vintage grew up surrounded by Aboriginalia in the form of kitsch everyday objects, often depicting racist stereotypes that showed what Australia thought about us. From wall hangings to tea-towels, to drink coasters and ashtrays, they were ever present. Later, when they began to be regarded as cringe-worthy, they were relegated to the op-shops frequented by a young Tony Albert. The Girrimay, Kuku Yilanji, Yidinji artist describes his early fas
Artist Tony Albert is showcasing a powerful exhibition titled "Not a Souvenir" at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibit features a vast collection of "Aboriginalia" – everyday objects like tea-towels and ashtrays that often depicted racist stereotypes of Indigenous Australians. Albert, whose practice spans decades, uses these items, which he encountered in op-shops during his youth, to confront and reframe historical racism. He presents these once-derided objects with care, transforming them into potent symbols of Blak presence and resilience. The exhibition starkly contrasts the kitsch souvenirs with more disturbing pieces, such as ashtrays designed for cigarettes to be stubbed out on Indigenous faces, highlighting casual violence and historical disregard.
This exhibition matters because it transforms objects of racist caricature into a significant platform for truth-telling and reclaiming Indigenous narratives from a painful past.
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