Foreword

Our Journeys | Our Stories is a ground breaking exhibition for Hurstville Museum & Gallery.

As a converged facility – both a museum and a gallery – this marks the first time our exhibition space will simultaneously reflect our two halves. Often alternating between a social history (or ‘museum’) exhibition and a visual arts (or ‘gallery’) show, this exhibition showcases the full potential of a combined facility, as we present side by side the history of Chinese migration to the area accompanied by artworks responding to the themes and objects on display.

Our Journeys | Our Stories explores the Chinese migration history of the Georges River area, interweaving social and cultural history with the work of contemporary Chinese-Australian artists Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen, Guo Jian, Lindy Lee, Xiao Lu, Jason Phu, and Guan Wei. This exhibition aims to highlight and celebrate the significance of local Chinese migration from the 19th century through to the 2000s and the ongoing contribution of the Chinese community to the Georges River area.

At the heart of most cultural institutions is storytelling, and one of Hurstville Museum & Gallery’s strengths is its local focus and passion to tell the diverse stories of the Georges River community. Create Georges River, Council’s Cultural Strategy, highlights the link between culture and place, exploring how our community’s activities, backgrounds and beliefs impact upon the place where we live. The Georges River area is a culturally rich place, and this exhibition demonstrates the value of cultural exchange.

To our community lenders and oral history participants, thank you so much for trusting us to share your stories. It is these personal accounts and memorabilia that demonstrate the long-lasting impacts of migration, not only in your personal lives, but on the social fabric of our area.

To our artists and their participating galleries, thank you for your support and enthusiasm for this exhibition. I am honoured to have each one of your works included in the show and to have heard how the narratives explored inspired your creative processes.

To the cultural institutions and funding bodies who have supported us, thank you for opening your collections to us and seeing the value in what was an ambitious dream that has turned into an amazing reality.

Finally, to Hurstville Museum & Gallery curators, Claire Baddeley and Renee Porter, you should both be immensely proud of this exhibition. Claire, you researched and listened with care to our local community, revealing fascinating stories and objects that tell the history of Chinese migration to Australia and our area. Renee, you worked so hard to achieve the artists on our wish list, and in turn have helped shine a light on the work done here at Hurstville Museum & Gallery.

I hope our visitors enjoy uncovering the connections between the artworks and history, and leave this exhibition with a deeper awareness of the longstanding and continuing connection the Chinese-Australian community has with the Georges River area.

Bethany MacRae Coordinator Cultural Services Hurstville Museum & Gallery