You are invited to join us for this in-conversation with internationally renowned artist, Tony Albert to share and discuss the journey and making of Tony’s first public artwork in Brisbane, Native Still Life commissioned as part of the Brisbane City Council’s The Platform situated at Brisbane Botanical Gardens Mount Coot-tha.
Native Still Life is inspired by the stunning native flowers that exist in context of botanical gardens and responds to how historically, these flowers have been visually associated with Aboriginal people through western home décor, adding to the construction of our national identity. These popular appropriated images have adorned the Australian tourist market for decades and are recognised globally in reference to Australia’s identity. Tony deconstructs this imagery, giving back autonomy to the Aboriginal voices originally silenced in these objects, by reconfiguring, re-appropriating and intersecting them through this artwork.
Tony Albert is a Brisbane-based Aboriginal artist. His works are provoked by stereotypical representations of Aboriginal people and Australia’s colonial history. The Platform is a contemporary sculpture project, where commissioned artworks are displayed adjacent to the Mt Coot-tha Visitor Information Centre in the Mt Coot-tha precinct. After a time, the sculptures are relocated and included in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha sculpture trail as part of Brisbane City Council’s public art collection.
Bookings: essential via Eventbrite.
Cost: free.
Age: all ages.
Venue and meeting point: Auditorium, ground floor of the Administration building (adjacent to the brick ponds).
Carparking is available at the gardens and guests may wish to phone Translink 13 12 30 for public transport options.
Image: ‘Native Still Life’ 2022, on The Platform. Photography by Joseph Rucklie.
