Sorry, Not Sorry

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We are entrapped by the decisions (or lack of decisions) made by those who hold the reins, steering our society into what they want to see, but we are not powerless. For centuries art has initiated the turning point of emerging ideologies, of change. Through art we have a voice, we have the power not to succumb to political misgivings, lies and negligence (Negash, 2004).

We apologise. We say sorry. Two short phrases that were repetitively enforced in the 2007 ‘Sorry speech’, made by the then, newly elected Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. His speech focussed on reconciling the ‘hurt, humiliation, degradation and the sheer brutality the stolen generation’ [endured], and the need to progress ‘forward together with confidence to the future’ (Rudd, 2007). Yet, six years have come and gone and we are no more one than country is city; nothing has been reformed—Indigenous health systems still have not improved, people are still dying in custody (Ockenden, 2013). Aboriginal Australians are still excluded, but, through the recent birth of the voice of Indigenous art across Australia, they are no longer invisible; the beauty of their revealed creativity contradicts the once bigoted perception of their culture.

Sorry; it eases our consciences—but it does not assist the numerous Aborigines who die from HIV or continued alcohol abuse, nor does it save those who are murdered in custody. Words are not actions. This is the view I established on viewing the work Sorry (2008), composed by young Aboriginal artist Tony Albert, when attending Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art’s (QAGOMA’s) exhibition, ‘My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Australia’
(1 June – 7 October 2013).

In Sorry, a simply... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline

Tony Albert, Girramay people, Sorry, 2008. Found kitsch objects applied to vinyl letters, 99 objects: 200 x 510 x 10cm (installed). The James C Sourris, AM, Collection. Purchased 2008 with funds from James C Sourris through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation. Collection: Queensland Art Gallery.

Vernon Ah Kee, Kuku Yalanji/Waanyi/Yidinyji/Guugu Yimithirr people, Tall Man (still), 2010. Four-channel digital video installation from DVD: 4:3, 11:10 minutes, colour, sound, ed.2/3. Purchased 2012. Queensland Art Gallery. Collection: Queensland Art Gallery.