Copy, Paste, Profit

Some of history’s most dangerous ideas never went out of style

Discover the dark and tangled tales of Indian design woven through this historic textile collection.

Behind the beauty and eclecticism of the designs, these objects are threaded with uncomfortable histories of exploitation and erasure. In this tour led by library experts, stories of colonial appropriation, commercial profiteering and technological threats will be exposed.

How do we reckon with objects made by hands we’ve since denied or patterns copied from other cultures and never credited? These same questions echo loudly today in fast-fashion supply chains, appropriated motifs and the labour behind the clothes we wear.

Dangerous Excursions is a tour series delivered in partnership with the Festival of Dangerous Ideas and Sydney’s cultural institutions, exploring objects that are too controversial, fragile or complex for public view.