Art Project Transforms Offensive Artefacts

Indigenous artist Tony Albert's "Not a Souvenir" exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Sydney has concluded with a remarkable public response. Albert's career-spanning project sought donations of "Aboriginalia" – often caricatured souvenirs depicting Indigenous Australians created and sold by non-Indigenous people. Thousands of items, including figurines, plates, and serviettes, were donated by individuals from Australia and New Zealand.

The donated objects are now being shipped to Albert's studio in Brisbane, where he intends to reappropriate them through his artistic practice. Albert expressed being overwhelmed by the generosity, noting the powerful personal stories accompanying the donations. He stated, "There is something incredibly powerful and healing about people wanting to confront this history and entrusting me with these objects, so that together we can give them new meaning."

Assistant curator Antares Wells reported a positive and inspiring experience receiving the donations, with no negative feedback, contrary to initial concerns. The initiative aims to remove these often-offensive items from circulation and transform them, fostering a deeper understanding of colonial trauma and representation. The collection process has been integral to Albert's practice since childhood, evolving his perspective on these objects' potential to challenge perceptions and create meaning from difficult histories.