audacious joy

First showing 18 June–5 September 2021; Second showing August 2022–February 2023
Brindabella Business Park
Belconnen Arts Centre’s IGNITE: Gallery

‘Audacious Joy’ challenges the focus of stories and media representations of the Asian Australian experience on tragedy and trauma and carves out a small space for Asian joy. While there are many constant challenges to being Asian in Australia, ‘Audacious Joy’ takes a moment to celebrate the positive emotions that arise from the Asian Australian identity. The work consists of three photographs each featuring an Asian Australian woman in a jubilant pose. The bright colours of pink, gold and orange evoke the warmth of happiness and are presented against an optimistic blue sky. When the work is viewed from left to right as a whole, the figure appears to spin. This element of motion invigorates the still photographic work by giving it a carefree feeling and suggests that it captures a dance.