I can’t wait for you to grow
3 February 2024 - 7 April 2024
Curator:
Artist: Adrian Jing Song and Phương Lê
Artists:
Location: Boadle Hall
This exhibition by artists Adrian Jing Song and Phương Lê delves into hidden family histories through a collaborative exploration of photography, installation, and artist books. Both raised in Southeast Asian households, their artworks explore themes of ‘the unspoken’ and ‘the withheld’ inherent within their diasporic families.
For Phương, the rediscovery of an old family photo album is a journey of self-discovery, as he grapples with the expectations of his queer identity and co-existing within a Vietnamese-Australian cultural context. His exploration leads to unexpected family reunions and visits to his grandfather's village, bringing to light the importance of knowing where you come from.
Adrian’s artwork also focuses on the archive of the family album, presenting it as an indecipherable mystery that can never reveal the full story.
Through their exhibition, the artists invite viewers to engage with a sense of 'not knowing.' While the photographs offer context and possible explanations, they deliberately withhold closure, fostering a space for interpretation and possibility.