Need a helmet?

Set against the formal traditions of colonial-era still life, Need a Helmet? uses humour and sharp visual contrast to unpack the legacy of English colonialism. The lavish floral arrangement—symbolic of empire, conquest, and imported ideals of ‘civilisation’—is rudely interrupted by a bold, bright pink motorbike helmet, an unmistakable marker of contemporary Australian irreverence.

The title itself, drawn from Aussie slang, hints at confrontation and survival: “Need a helmet?” suggests that in the rough and tumble of real life, a bit of protection—and a good sense of humour—won’t go astray. It’s a tongue-in-cheek reminder that the genteel façades brought over by colonial powers were often ill-fitted to the realities of the Australian landscape and spirit.

By inserting a jarring, everyday object into an otherwise 'proper' composition, the work questions inherited narratives of refinement, ownership, and cultural hierarchy. Need a Helmet? invites viewers to reflect on the absurdities of colonial aspiration while celebrating a more rugged, unapologetic Australian identity.