Upcoming gallery exhibitions reflect experiences of refugees and immigrants

Two new art exhibitions inspired by the cultural heritage of the artists will open at Redland Art Gallery on Sunday 16 June.

Liminal by artist Sha Sarwari responds to both the experience and representation of refugees in Australia.

The full title pairs “liminal” with the Farsi written language for “Barzakh” which refers to the experience of being in limbo, a place of lingering between death and resurrection.

Sarwari’s work entangles the refugee experience in language, holding both pasts and futures, alienation and acceptance, remembrance and forgetting and, ultimately, embracing its potential as a source of hope.

Sha Sarwari, Liminal (detail), 2023. Photograph by Louis Lim. Courtesy of the Artist.

Language is an important element of the exhibition, with words given presence through sculptures and installations that use postcards and newspaper articles as raw materials.

The works transform these often generic and biased texts into objects that reflect Sarwari’s personal journey as a refugee from Afghanistan.

Also opening on Sunday 16 June, Off the Pages, Between the Lines by artist Pamela See uses papercutting to engage with natural histories, historical events and cultural symbols.

The practice is applied to the history of Redlands Coast and, specifically to recognising the contribution of Chinese immigrants to the area.

The exhibition includes Cropped, an installation based on woodblock prints and drawings that were produced by local participants in workshops facilitated by See.

This work, and its process, further expands the visibility of Chinese migration and labour in the region and intertwines this historical narrative with a celebration of the present-day local community.

Redland City Council Mayor Jos Mitchell said showcasing cultural heritage and experiences through art was enriching for the Redlands Coast community.

“These upcoming exhibitions provide an insight into the experiences of refugees in our country and the contribution of immigrants to our local area,” she said.

“The artists’ commitment to educating and inspiring through their chosen mediums helps all of us connect and develop mutual respect and understanding.”

DIARY NOTE:

An opening event for both exhibitions will be held at Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland on Friday 14 June, from 6pm The exhibitions will be open to the public during gallery hours from Sunday 16 June to Tuesday 30 July, 2024 A conversation with the artists will be held at 10am on Sunday 16 June

Bookings are essential for the exhibition openings and floor talks. Register online at artgallery.redland.qld.gov.au

Redland City Council provides a suite of services to 166,873 residents and more than 63,000 residential households across Redlands Coast. Our naturally wonderful city on Quandamooka Country is home to more than 335 kilometres of coastline, six island communities and 12 mainland suburbs.