Above : Tony Albert, courtesy of the artist, photograph: Louis Lim
At its heart this exhibition of Tony Albert’s work is his continuing engagement with what he has termed as Aboriginalia, mass produced art that is kitsch featuring stereotypical and often racist depictions of Aboriginal peoples.
Over 2,500 objects of Aboriginalia from his personal collection are part of the exhibition, from tea towles and ashtrays to figurines and crockery. These souvenirs circulated widely in Australia in the twentieth century and continue to be sold today.
Growing up in Meanjin/Brisbane, Albert began collecting the items from when he was a child.
‘I rarely saw Aboriginal people : not at the supermarket, not on the bus, not on television, or anywhere I went. It was my delight, and I am sure my parents’ horror, when I discovered and began collecting from our local second hand store all the cups, plates, trays, playing cards, statuettes, figurines- anything I could get – that were decorated with images of Aboriginal people.’
Reclaiming these image with wit and integrity, Albert responds by asserting representation on his own terms. ‘As an adult, I see the importance of using these objects to create conversations around Aboriginal identity in an inclusive way.’
This is a fantastic exhibition. As is it want, it will start plenty of conversations. It is on display at MCA Australia until 19 October 2026.
The exhibition is free for MCA member and for young people under 18. Otherwise tickets :
