Kait James: Red Flags is Wadawurrung artist Kait James’ most ambitious solo exhibition to date. Since 2018, James has been carving out a unique visual language based in the reappropriation of racialised products. Colloquially identified as ‘Aboriginalia’, these mass-produced, commercial objects range from souvenir tea towels and pennant flags to children’s dolls and ceramic figurines. Primarily created from the 1950s through to the 1980s for consumption by non-Indigenous tourists, they depict culturally insensitive and racially stereotyped imagery, designs and motifs.
In a practice of subversion, James embroiders into and on top of these products, embedding language and imagery to forge new narratives linked to contemporary political campaigns and debates. Combining autobiography, incisive analysis and wry humour, James’ practice reveals a deep reverence for her culture alongside a glimpse into a shared ‘Australian’ First Nations experience.
Kait James: Red Flags is a Warrnambool Art Gallery exhibition, curated by Aaron Bradbrook and touring nationally with NETS Victoria.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, and the Visions of Australia program, and has received development assistance from NETS Victoria’s Exhibition Development Fund, supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.
A message for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
This exhibition includes work, themes and images about the historical and ongoing discrimination faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Viewer discretion is advised.
Sensitive Content Warning
This exhibition contains artworks that depict themes and images related to the historical and ongoing systemic racism and discrimination faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and may prompt strong emotional responses. It includes social and political critique from the artist’s perspective, and includes strong language. Viewer discretion is advised.
