There are a number of possible theoretical entry points to Justene Williams’ new survey show, Once We Were Mudskippers.

The first is the mudskipper of the exhibition’s title. I have a confession: I did not know what a mudskipper was. As it turns out, mudskippers are fish that can walk on land, breathe air, and spend much of their time out of the water.

With this fact now firmly established, the mudskipper’s ambiguity as a slightly abject, oxygen-breathing fish that walks serves as a powerful visual metaphor that runs through the show.

An ageing and slightly decrepit fibreglass boat sporting curious pectoral-like feet? Not a problem. Like the mudskipper, the boat can now lurch across land.

“Emotes” drawn from the game Fortnite similarly supported by pectoral appendages? Of course.

Giant entry archways riffing off Natalia Goncharova’s costume designs for fantastic sea creatures circa 1916? Very mudskippery.

For over two decades, Australian artist Williams has developed a distinctive visual language that mobilises seemingly incompatible reference points: from the historical avant-garde’s set and costume designs, to 1990s grunge DIY, to contemporary suburban vernacular of eskies and yoga mats.

Throw some slimy mudskippers into the mix, and it is not such a radical departure.

A rag-picker for our age

If the mudskipper signals a new “character” for Williams, the second theoretical entry point is drawn from the German philosopher Walter Benjamin (1892–1940). Benjamin’s monumental and incomplete The Arcades Project was commenced in 1927 and unfinished........

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