Tony ALBERT
i am a young austrAlien
2006
video projection

This work was filmed on 26 January 2006: Australia Day, a day of celebration for many Australians, but also Invasion Day, a day that symbolises dispossession and death for many Aboriginal people.

I started my day by taking part in the Invasion Day Rally at Roma Street, in the Brisbane CBD. In front of a large audience, speakers talked about stolen wages, deaths in custody, stolen generations, land rights and other important issues relating to the effects of colonisation. A young Aboriginal activist then burnt the Australian Flag. As we marched though the city to a meeting point at Musgrave Park Cultural Centre, I felt a sense of how appropriate it was to be filming this work today.

i am a young austrALIEN explores notions of the colonised Aboriginal body. Aboriginal faces appear, one at a time, repeating the words of a children's song I can remember being taught when I was at school.

I am a young Australian
I'm growing every day
I clean my teeth and comb my hair
And put my clothes away
I love my mum and my dad
And I know that they love me
They give me everything I need
I'm glad that they had me

The white background and almost sickeningly sweet song lyrics are contrasted with black faces labelled as 'austrALIEN'. The intention of the song is undoubtedly to indoctrinate 'real Australian values' into the minds of young school children. However, when spoken by Aboriginal people, this song is an almost eerie reminder of the assimilation and integration policies of former and current Australian Governments. While the work has serious undertones it is not without humour. Making this work was a new experience for me, working with close friends and watching the different interpretations of these lyrics.