Abdul Abdullah in ‘Just Not Australian’ at the Museum of Sydney

11 May 2023

Just Not Australian presents work by 19 Australian artists, among them Yavuz’s artist Abdul Abdullah, at the forefront of national debate and practice. Spanning generations and diverse cultural backgrounds, these artists deal broadly with the origins and implications of contemporary Australian nationhood. 

At the core of the exhibition lies an exploration of the profound moral and ethical dimensions embedded within the contentious phrase “un-Australian.” Far from a simple comparison, a consideration of what is not Australian ultimately leads to questions about what shapes the essence of Australian identity. By delving into issues such as immigration, border protection, land rights, Indigenous sovereignty, racism, xenophobia, resource exploitation, and climate change, Just Not Australian captures the multifarious nature of a nation divided on various fronts.

Just Not Australian concludes on 4 June 2023.