A culturally-diverse group of digital storytellers have created a series of short films that explore their experiences of belonging, identity formation, prejudice, family and community.
Using animation, performance, interviews, stop-motion animation and
narrative film the following creatives capture and present their personal and collective experiences: Nor Shanino and Ahmed Dini; Feifei Liao and Arti Shah; Logan Tapuala;Pauline Pham and Thang Van Pham; Taka and Youbi; Yo Soy Collective; Kate Robinson and Maria Birch-Morunga.
Culture Makers has been made possible thanks to the generous support of The Scanlon Foundation.
Included with museum entry
Adult $15
Senior $12
Child 16 Years & Under Free
Concession Free
Members Free
Date & Time
Open daily 10am–5pm
ARTISTS
Ahmed Dini and Nor Shanino’s families migrated to Melbourne when they were young children. Nor and Ahmed grew up in the public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne, an experience that has fuelled their work in establishing Ubuntu Project, an organisation which works for the benefit and strength building of their communities.
Arti Shah is Kenyan by birth, Gujarati Indian by ethnicity and Australian by naturalisation. Her artistry lies in unravelling and understanding narratives through poetry, line art and storytelling. She draws upon her own experiences, reflections and connections with others.
Feifei Liao was born and raised in Sichuan, China, and originally migrated to Melbourne to study. Feifei is the founder of a social enterprise dedicated to bringing diverse communities together through shared experiences, while championing LGBTQIA+ and equity.
Logan Tapuala was born in Melbourne but grew up in Sāmoa where his love of Siva Afi, traditional Samoan fire dance, began. After moving back to Australia, Siva Afi helped him to form his identity as a Samoan Australian. He hopes that through performing and teaching Siva Afi he can help others to build their confidence and discipline and feel a connection with Samoan culture.
Thang Van Pham and Pauline Pham are a father and daughter from the Western suburbs of Melbourne. Thang came to Australia as a 21-year-old refugee of the Vietnam War in 1981 with his three younger brothers. Over the last four decades, he has become a husband and father, contributing to shaping modern Australian society. As a storyteller, he preserves family history through poetry.
Pauline is a mixed media artist and community worker. Her practice is inspired by themes of cultural identity and societal expansion and meditation of the present moment.
Youbi Lee (이유비) is a Korean-heritage multidisciplinary artist based in Naarm/ Melbourne. She works in installation, performance, animation, puppetry and facilitation, making large-scale collaborative arts projects with communities, councils and festivals.
Taka Takiguchi (滝口貴) is a Naarm/ Melbourne-based independent artist and producer of Japanese (Hiroshima) heritage. His work delves into personal narratives, memory, time, and cultural identity, exploring these themes through poetry, scriptwriting and movement practices.
The story of Yo Soy Collective is the story of the Melbourne Latinx community. There are nearly 48,000 people with Latin American heritage living in Victoria. Across this hugely diverse diaspora, the art of gathering - of connecting with community, culture, and creativity – is a shared practice vital to building and maintaining a strong sense of identity and fostering social connections.
Kate Robinson (she/her) is an Iranian/Australian artist. She was the inaugural Feminist in Residence at Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, where she curated the community craftivist exhibition ‘Make a Fuss’. She currently serves on the board for independent arts organisation NextWave and the QVWC Trust. Kate loves making art accessible and working with communities to reignite their creative side. She hosts craft workshops for local councils, galleries etc. Kate also co-hosts the podcast Being Biracial alongside Maria. For her, this podcast has been a chance to delve into what makes us whole.
Maria Birch-Morunga (she/her) is a Māori/Pakehā trainer, podcast host and craft queen. Maria channels her activism into her art by creating embroidery pieces on topics from tokenism to capitalism, and co-hosting Being Biracial podcast. She is passionate about educating people about race and identity with compassion and is intensely curious about how the intersections of oppression show up in the mundane. Maria also serves on the board for arts organisation Mossfolk.
ACCESSIBILITY
Please view our accessibility page for general information. A sensory map of Melbourne Museum can be found on our Visual Stories page where step-by-step visual and written access guides are available. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.
