21/05/2026
Celebrated the opening of Tony Albertโs massive retrospective, NOT A SOUVENIR at the MCA last night. โจ
It was especially exciting to see Jasper Keftโs appearance in Tonyโs photo series Optimism II, featuring the incredible weaving work of Erica Muriata ๐งกโจ
Congratulations to Girramay, Kuku Yalanji, and Yidinji artist Tony Albert on the exhibition- a seminal survey of his work over the past two decades. The show is spectacular in both scale and energy. A true testament to the artistโs exceptional talent and dedication to truth-telling through provocation and humour.
โThis exhibition is an invitation. An opportunity to open something up: not just my practice, but a long and complex conversation that I have been part of for many years. Some things you encounter here may feel familiar, others may feel uncomfortable.โ โ Tony Albert
โTony Albert: Not a Souvenir takes inspiration from the MCAโs location on Sydney Harbour and the surrounding precinct of Tallawoladah/The Rocks - a colonial site now closely associated with tourism and souvenir culture. The artworks presented here grapple with the commodification and misrepresentation of Aboriginal peoples, both historically and today, while also celebrating survival, resilience, and cultural pride.
Albertโs practice is grounded in his extensive collection of historical โAboriginaliaโ โ mass-produced objects featuring caricatures of Indigenous peoples and cultural motifs. By intervening in this material, the artist transforms objects of prejudice into powerful symbols of resistance, asserting an Indigenous understanding of Australian culture and history.โ
Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir is guest curated by curator Bruce Johnson McLean (Wierdi people), Rebecca Ray (Meriam Mer), and has been developed in close collaboration with the artist Tony Albert (Girramay, Kuku Yalanji and Yidindji peoples).
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