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.
IMAGES
Kait James
Red Flags (detail) 2024
porcelain clay slip, pigmented underglaze and clear gloss ceramic glaze, felt, wooden dowel
240 cm (diameter irreg.)
Courtesy of the artist and Neon Parc
Photo: Christian Capurro
Kait James
Faboriginal 2024
acrylic yarn, cotton, digital printed cotton, mirror tiles, felt
150 x 140 x 10 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Neon Parc
Photo: Christian Capurro
Kait James
Colonial Load 2024
acrylic yarn, cotton, digital printed cotton, felt
150 x 140 x 10 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Neon Parc
Photo: Christian Capurro
Kait James
Unsettled (Red) 2024
wool felt, water based opaque pigment, water-based glue and metallic foil, screen printed on synthetic felt
120 x 80 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Neon Parc
Photo: Christian Capurro
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