The Blak Infinite: Kait James

“If we were invaded now, and an alien wanted to know about Wadawurrung culture, I would take them to our weaver, as weavers are the holders of our knowledge.” — Kait James

By embroidering onto 1970s souvenir tea towels depicting stereotypes of First Peoples, Kait James (Wadawurrung) reclaims outdated imagery and offers alternate realities to invasion. Indigenous people fight back against invaders and win, aliens abduct people who don’t belong from the land, and a visitor asks to be taken to your leader.

Kait plays on tropes from science fiction films and videogames set in outer space, packing them with contemporary pop culture imagery, and Indigenous humour and knowledges.Alien invasion is a fantasy in sci-fi films, but for First Peoples,it is reality.

Artworks

Take Me To Your Weaver
Location: Swanston St Forecourt
Courtesy of the artist
2022

Alienation
Location: Swanston St Forecourt
Courtesy of the artist
2021

Invaders, Game Over
Location: Swanston St Forecourt
Courtesy of the artist
2019

Supported by Photo Australia & City of Melbourne

Fed Square and RISING present The Blak Infinite, co-curated by Kimberley Moulton (Yorta Yorta) and Kate ten Buuren (Taungurung).