Book your free ticket for an open table discussion and oral storytelling exchange centred around preservation and heritage. Discussing discovery, memory, and resilience, artist Maria Than, Vietnamese designer Sophia Luu and publisher Trà My Hickin explore the political dimensions of immigration and the imperative need to safeguard archives and narratives for future generations of Viet and Southeast Asia diasporas. The conversation dissects the challenges of preserving oral histories, the impact of immigration policies on cultural identity, and the role of digital archives in amplifying marginalised voices.
Homage To Quan Âm delves deep into the intricate layers of personal identity, cultural assimilation, and the evolution of self-discovery. Quan Âm, the Viet name of Bodhisattva (Buddhist deity) of Compassion, Mercy and Medicine, has been the favourite goddess of many, including Maria. Drawing inspiration from Maria’s own experiences growing up in a Vietnamese-British-French Buddhist family, the exhibition serves as a visual and emotional exploration of the complex journey away from refusal, and towards acceptance and understanding.
Homage To Quan Âm forms part of arebyte’s artistic focus for 2023/26 themed The Body, The Mind, The Soul and traverses buried childhood memories, mortality, and identity through animation, CGI, AI-generated imagery, interactive digital works and virtual reality to unfold a personal, but relatable, account of staying with the trouble of becoming. Homage To Quan Âm suggests an assimilation with other narratives through the lens of Buddhist philosophy, fostering personal connections that transcend cultural divides and resonate on a deeply human level.
Read more about the exhibition here.
