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[title]Time is running out to see this compelling exhibition by First Nations artist Tony Albert, a fearless voice in contemporary Australian art. Albert’s solo show, Tony Albert: Not A Souvenir, will wrap up its run at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) on October 19. Consider this your final warning, otherwise you might suffer a serious case of FOMO.
Drawing on his heritage as a Kuku Yalanji, Girramay and Yidindji man, Albert takes a deep dive into themes of identity and place in a way that makes you think twice. Taking a bold optimistic approach, Albert tackles how Aboriginal people and culture have been misconstrued and commodified over time, framing it against a counter-narrative of survival, resilience and pride. The result is a raw, vibrant patchwork of personal and collective memories, layered through mixed media that tells a dynamic story of living history.
His work is characterised by a style he calls ‘Aboriginalia’: cheap surface-level souvenirs that draw on Indigenous culture to sell Australia to tourists. From tea towels to ashtrays, Albert repurposes them to give them a far deeper meaning.
The setting itself adds another layer of meaning. Situated at Tallawoladah on Sydney Harbour, the MCA sits in the heart of The Rocks. Now home to boutique shops, old pubs and plenty of tourists, the area was once the site of some of the earliest colonial contacts. Albert poignantly draws directly from this immediate landscape by weaving the precinct’s complex history into the exhibition, giving the show a tangible weight.
Grounded in shared stories and collective history, Tony Albert: Not A Souvenir is a collaborative effort uniting First Nations people and the community. The exhibition is guest curated by Indigenous curator Bruce Johnson McLean (Wierdi people) and was developed in close collaboration with the artist.
Tickets start from $35, and the exhibition is open daily except Tuesdays. If you're looking for an evening visit, drop by for MCA Late on Thursday nights when doors stay open until 9pm – you can score 2-for-1 tickets if you visit between 5pm and 9pm.
Tony Albert: Not A Souvenir runs until October 19. For more information and to book tickets, visit the MCA website.