CHINDIA, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney, February 2018
'Chindia' consists of a visual art exhibition, a short film event and stories from the artists who explore issues of cultural and national identity, politics, displacement and diaspora memories and connections. ‘Chindia’ unpacks the multiplicity of identities in migrant communities, and champions the practice of the arts as a socially innovative tool to increase community engagement and participation in creating an inclusive, culturally rich, diverse and vibrant society. As part of the 'Chindia' exhibition, ‘Chindia: Stories from the Artists’ feature six artists, Anindita Banerjee, Anurendra Jegadeva, Guo Jian, Lilian Lai, Lucy Wang (Ru Xi) and TextaQueen sharing their family stories, inspirations and motivations. ‘Chindia: Stories from the Diaspora’ will screen short films that reveal a snapshot of the lived experiences of the diaspora communities. China and India are two of the most populous countries in the world. With histories which date back thousands of years, the Chinese and Indian peoples have a long history of overseas migration, maintenance of cultural identity, and socio-cultural exchange with local cultures. Today, both countries have a large diaspora population around the world including in Australia. ‘Chindia’ unpacks the multiplicity of migrant identities in Australia looking at the perspectives of those with Chinese and Indian heritage as a starting point. Both these nations have a particular history of cultural intermingling as well as conflict that has shaped these migration experiences. In advocating the principles of peaceful co-existence, what can we learn from these cross-cultural connections and the implications for past, present and future engagement with First Nations and other South and East Asian peoples? The inclusion of diverse artists is not just an acknowledgement of and visibility for those communities, but an opportunity for them to meet and engage further with each other and others. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which this exhibition has been curated and produced. As more migrant communities settle in Australia, we want to ensure that we pay our respect to Elders, past and present and remain committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander people. Chindia Exhibition 15 - 26 February 2018 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 10am-6pm / Saturday: 11am-5pm / Sunday: Closed Venue: Gaffa Gallery, Gallery 1, 281 Clarence St Sydney Chindia: Stories from the Artists Saturday, 17 February 2018 2.00pm - 4.00pm Venue: 107, 107 Redfern St, Redfern https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/chindia-stories-from-the-artists-tickets-39753485746 Chindia: Short Films from the Diaspora Monday, 19 February 2018 6.00pm - 8.00pm Venue: UTS Library Haymarket, Level 2, Ultimo Rd & Quay St https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/chindia-short-films-from-the-diaspora-tickets-39753676316
Kevin Bathman
