The Ambassador; the space between truth and fantasy

Photograph: Eugenia Lim in The Ambassador

7 May 2020

Bega Valley Regional Gallery’s upcoming exhibition will present the work of Australian artist Eugenia Lim whose latest work, The Ambassador trilogy, drills down into racial politics, the social costs of manufacturing and the role of architecture in shaping society.

Gallery Director, Iain Dawson said The Ambassador will begin its Bega stint as an online space only, with people able to take a self-guided 3D tour of the show via the Gallery website.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the gallery to present an incredible contemporary Australian exhibition while in such unique circumstances,” Mr Dawson said.

In The Ambassador Lim, who is of Chinese-Singaporean descent, transforms herself into the character of the Ambassador, a Mao-like persona who inhabits the space between truth and fantasy.

Throughout each of the three parts, the Ambassador takes on new roles in uncovering the Australian-Asian narrative.

In part one Yellow Peril (2015), Lim contemplates the fraught stories from the first wave of Chinese migrants seeking to make their fortunes in the Australian gold rush.

Borrowing its name from the renminbi (China’s currency), in part two The People’s Currency (2017) transforms the gallery into a ‘special economic zone’. Within this zone the Ambassador stands over her factory manufacturing counterfeit money and ceramic imitation electronic consumer goods.

The Australian Ugliness (2018), part three of the series, surveys the role of architecture in marking a society and shaping national identity.

Mr Dawson said BVRG had found itself in a place where it was able to pivot quite rapidly toward presenting its exhibition and education program online as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.  

“Since the gallery closed its physical space, we have tripled traffic on our website and have presented a range of engaging and innovative online offerings.

“We’re thrilled to be working with 4A, MGNSW and Eugenia and think we can offer more complete exhibition experiences for everyone in our Shire, using available technologies, into the future.”

The Ambassador is a 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and Museums & Galleries of NSW initiated touring project.

Eugenia Lim The Ambassador opens at 6pm on Friday 8 May and runs until 19 June 2020.

More information about Eugenia Lim The Ambassador is on the Bega Valley Regional Gallery website

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