The Platform

The Platform is a contemporary sculpture project, where commissioned artworks are displayed adjacent to the Mt Coot-tha Visitor Information Centre in the Mt Coot-tha precinct. After a time, the sculptures are relocated and included in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha sculpture trail as part of Brisbane City Council's public art collection.

Current artwork

Native Still Life - Tony Albert

Native Still Life is inspired by the stunning native flowers that exist in context of botanical gardens and responds to how historically, these flowers have been visually associated with Aboriginal people through western home décor, adding to the construction of our national identity.

These popular appropriated images have adorned the Australian tourist market for decades and are recognised globally in reference to Australia’s identity. Tony deconstructs this imagery, giving back autonomy to the Aboriginal voices originally silenced in these objects, by reconfiguring, re-appropriating and intersecting them through this artwork.

“I aspire to create work that is not only visually appealing, but more importantly acts as a vehicle for stimulating discussion and creating change. As a visual artist I have the opportunity to communicate the historical truths that the education system, the media and society as a whole, denied me as a child.”

Tony Albert is a Brisbane-based Aboriginal artist. His works are provoked by stereotypical representations of Aboriginal people and Australia’s colonial history.

For a deeper engagement into Tony’s art practice, visit the Museum of Brisbane website to create your own MoB Makers: Collaborative Collage with Tony Albert, commissioned as part of Brisbane City Council’s Indigenous Art Program 2021.

Photo gallery

This album includes current and previous The Platform installations. View the slideshow below, or view the images in 'The Platform, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha' album on Flickr.