Hard Yakka (Original artwork)

Hard Yakka stands as a visual provocation—an audacious portrait that fuses the codes of imperial formality with the irreverent flair of contemporary Australiana. A figure dressed in the ornate regalia of a 19th-century European officer sits in a gilded throne, poised and stately—yet crowned not with a traditional bicorn hat, but a glossy pink motorcycle helmet. This unexpected twist reclaims the narrative of authority, subverting historic power structures with a distinctly modern, almost rebellious sensibility.

The title Hard Yakka—an Australian colloquialism for hard work—grounds the image in a cultural vernacular that celebrates grit and effort over inherited status. This work cleverly blurs the lines between colonizer and colonized, aristocrat and tradesman, absurdity and elegance. The pristine jodhpurs and military boots speak to discipline and heritage, while the helmet, vibrant and plastic, speaks to safety, sport, and speed: contemporary values layered over colonial aesthetics.

This artwork, like others in our collection, challenges diners to re-evaluate icons of the past through the lens of today’s cultural commentary. It’s not just about nostalgia; it’s about evolution. What do we preserve? What do we repurpose? And how does humour become a powerful tool for reimagining history?