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‘Stranded in Time’, 2023
'Stranded in Time' reflects on the migrant experience of the Chinese diaspora who left their homes during the late 1900s in search of better working and living conditions. On arrival in foreign land, these migrants faced the challenge of integrating into a new society and culture which had a profoundly different value system to their own back home. Confucian values of collectivism, filial piety and family-oriented governance no longer held significance in a Western society which prioritises individualism, personal freedom and democracy. Compounded with a language barrier and experiences of discrimination, many migrants struggled to assimilate and find a sense of belonging in their new environment. The cultural displacement and isolation experienced as a result left many spending more and more time in their own houses, in particular women tasked with caregiving for their children. These homes, often cluttered with cultural ornaments and objects, became the safe space which connected people to their culture and reminded them of a feeling of belonging. Through documenting his parent’s house in Melbourne, Justin reflects on the experiences of this generation of Chinese migrants and attempts to uncover a more nuanced understanding of their history and struggles.
‘A Housefly’s Life’
A housefly flew into my living room the other day.
Let’s call her Jenny.
I guess she snuck into the house in search of something delicious,
a succulent Chinese meal.
But there was no food.
Displaced from Mother Nature, Jenny circled beneath the ceiling light for ages, thinking it signalled hope,
or maybe safety.
Jenny flew in circles.
Jenny annoyed me with her constant buzzing, so I ignored her and went about my busy day.
The next day I found Jenny dead on the dusty carpet.
She must have died from exhaustion.
‘Distance’
‘Endurance’
‘Decay’
‘Rupture’
‘Repair’