So Fukin Native is an interesting group show, with its heart in the right place, that slightly misses the mark as it unpacks what we understand to be ‘native’ and ‘authentic’ and the oppressive nature of this body of thought. Its curatorial impetus is to look at and understand the complex positioning of indigenous identity in a contemporary context, and what it means to be native, be that good or bad.

Blak Dot Gallery in Brunswick is a space dedicated to showing the work of contemporary indigenous artists from around the world. It’s been open for a year, and has a continual rotation of mixed media and interdisciplinary shows. It’s absolutely a breath of fresh air to see an Indigenous gallery that is legitimately contemporary, rather than other more common (and more problematic) galleries which show work that is culturally coded as ‘authentic’, which runs the risk of perpetuating an oppressive framework of exoticism and mythology.

Torika Bolatagici presented two videos, which were delicate and idiosyncratic looks at individual and collective identity. A Girl Like You shows the hands of the artist flipping through and blacking out various words from her newly rediscovered teen diaries. The eye skims across the barely legible pages to try to pull together an understanding of this revision of historical documents. Close by, you’ll find another video by the same artist, this time examining at the appropriation and re-contextualisation of Indigenous motifs in contemporary fashion. The artist states that this she is ‘attracted and repelled’ by this process. The video is an equally idiosyncratic and interesting look at quite a polemic topic.

There were two videos projected in the back section of the gallery which, unfortunately, could barely be seen. This area, a lovely light filled space, was the wrong context for projections which rely on a dark environment. Unless this was potentially a critique of context, failure, transparency or something tangible, these unfortunately failed as the videos were just washed-out, barely visible abstract shapes flitting across the screen.

Other works looked at notions relating to indigenous identity in divergent ways. Unfortunately, many of them seemed only to skim the surface of what is a deeply complex and loaded subject. One video looked at cultural artefacts that represent white Australian and Indigenous Australian identity, but the overdone use of Vegemite and the Australian flag bikini has lost its potency, and so instead appeared as reductive.

There were some other quite interesting large-scale photographs, however, the presentation of these pieces left a little to be desired.

Blak Dot Gallery is a great and very important space. The fact that this is one of the only legitimately contemporary galleries dedicated to showing the exciting work of Indigenous artists is quite scary, so it is important that this space grows and maintains a high standard of work. Unfortunately, this show didn’t quite do it for me, but I would recommend people get on board with this gallery as it is guaranteed to be doing some exciting things in the future.

Exhibiting artists at So Fuking Native are: Torika Bolatagici, Laktai Taumoepeau and Kathy Cogill, Candice Perese, Chantal Fraser and Chuck Feesago, Ben McKeown, Greg Semu and Maree Clarke.

So Fukin Native shows until 13 October at Blak Dot Gallery. Entry is free.