Curator + Artist + Community Conversations: Greg Leong

Join Tasmanian artist, performer and arts administrator Greg Leong and QVMAG Curator Ashley Bird in a rich interactive event exploring the new QVMAG Royal Park permanent galleries.

The new permanent galleries seek to create a space for reconciliation. It aims to change the colonial narrative that has dominated Tasmanian Galleries since the 19th-century.

The reinterpretation of the QVMAG’s collection now reflects our histories, identities and stories in a fresh and contemporary context.

Focusing on local Aboriginal cultures, colonial history and modern diversity, this exhibition encourages us to contemplate the ever-changing cultural landscape and our sense of belonging within it.

As part of the transformation of the Art Gallery at Royal Park, one of Greg Leong’s works included in the new display is; Singing History Quilts for New Chinese Australians: Weldborough Joss .In this work, Leong takes the Australian quilting tradition of recording events of historical and personal significance and adapts it for his own purposes.

Like many Chinese families who migrated to Australia in the 20th century, Leong’ s family was affected by the fierce anti-Asian sentiments of the White Australia policy.

Each quilt in the Singing History Quilts series is presented as a tongue-in-cheek aid to instruct new Chinese Australians on how to become more ‘Aussie’ by introducing them to songs—sung in Cantonese—that celebrate Australia’s identity.

Similar in form to a ceremonial banner, this quilt recognises the Chinese miners who worked in the north-east of Tasmania in the 1870s and 1880s.

Leong juxtaposes images of tin miners’ gravestones from Gladstone, Moorina and Weldborough, calligraphy from the Guan Di temple on display at QVMAG, and texts from Tasmanian newspapers expressing an anti-Chinese sentiment.

About the event

Through Greg Leong’s eyes we invite you to re-think our story and our sense of belonging to place. Expect to be entertained by Greg who will share an excerpt of his latest performance challenging stereotypes, reflecting on Australian identity.

We want to have an honest conversation with our community. Has our attempt at diversifying the gallery succeeded?

Join an open conversation between curator, artist and community.

Book online with Eventbrite

Guest speakers

Greg Leong

Greg Leong has been a fine music producer for radio, a lecturer in textiles and art theory, a visual and performing artist and a curator of exhibitions.

He has also had a successful career as an arts administrator in three countries.

For more than four and a half years he contributed to the changing cultural landscape in Burnie as Director of the Burnie Arts & Function Centre and Burnie Regional Art Gallery. He was also the General Manager of Theatre North at The Princess Theatre in Launceston.

Ashley Bird

With more than a decade of experience in commercial galleries across Australia, and through education in creative practice at the University of Tasmania, Ashley has developed a rich career in the arts and cultural sector.

Originally hailing from Melbourne, Ashley first started his career in garment construction, leading to a career path across the industries of film and television.

Since moving to Tasmania and becoming a Curator for the Visual Art and Design collection at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Ashley has remained a passionate professional custodian of the unique collection at QVMAG.

As a practicing artist, Ashley is committed to nurturing and fostering the creativity of Tasmanians through the QVMAG collection, now and in the future.

Image: courtesy of Jen Brown