Thou Didst Let Me Fall
Tony Albert’s latest exhibition at Sullivan + Strumpf Gallery explores the roles aboriginal Australians have played in Australia’s armed conflicts, examining the often thankless, and even derisive response they received for their contribution. Albert’s exhibition was partially inspired by his own family history – his grandfather served in the armed forces during WWII and was a prisoner of war before Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were even recognized as Australian citizens. Albert’s work is a composite of what he calls “kitsch Australiana” focused on Aboriginal Australians, collected over many years and displayed as a series of installations, paintings and sculptures, in such a way that the viewer must untangle their meaning for themselves. His exhibition explores the stories on the periphery of popular history, and asks viewers to consider what might be hidden behind and to consider what purposes particular historical narratives might serve. This exhibition is the culmination of four years of work with Albert having been commissioned by the City of Sydney to create a monument to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women and in which he served a tour of duty as Official War Artist for the Australian War Memorial.
18 April – 16 May 2015, Sullivan+Strumpf, 799 Elizabeth St, Zetland.
