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SALA Exhibition: No Junk Mail, Thank You!

July 1, 2025

Step back in time through hand-painted depictions of supermarket catalogues from the 60s, 70s, and 80s—when grocery shopping was a sensory experience of affordability and simplicity. These nostalgic pieces capture mid-century aspirations and consumer power. Today, amid rising living costs and inflation, they serve as both historical documents and poignant reflections. This exhibition contrasts past pop culture icons with present-day realities, prompting reflection on how consumption has changed. It invites viewers to consider the lasting effects of economic shifts and rediscover an appreciation for these iconic brands of Australia and their rich history. - Donovan Christie

Donovan Christie is a South Australian artist known for his meticulous, nostalgic depictions of everyday life: elevating the overlooked and celebrating the familiar. Self-taught and deeply connected to his surroundings, Christie’s work captures the charm of suburban Australia with warmth, wit, and detail.

In No Junk Mail, Thank You!, he brings his signature realism to vintage supermarket catalogues from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, using them as a lens to explore memory, identity, and cultural change. Through these hand-painted relics of consumer history, Christie invites us to look closer - not just at what we once bought, but at who we were when we bought it.

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Presented as part of the 2025 SALA Festival.

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