AMES Australia's annual Heartlands arts project for refugee and migrant artists was launched this week with a stunning exhibition of photography and digital work that gives an insight into the experiences of multicultural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic
Titled Heartlands 2020: Stories from the inside,the exhibition was launched by Victoria's Minister for Multicultural Affairs Hon. Ros Spence who paid tribute to AMES's work supporting migrants and refugees settle in Australia.
Then the exhibition provides a glimpse into the experiences of multicultural communities through the prism of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Five artists from a range of migrant and refugee communities have produced photographic or digital artworks for this year's exhibition. Hailing from countries including Bosnia, Iran, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Ethiopia, the artists' work gives insights into how the pandemic has affected our diverse communities.
“Much of what we see in the media about refugees, migrants and emerging communities is portrayed through the prism of mainstream society and more so at time of global pandemic. Heartlands 2020 has offered the opportunity for culturally and linguistically diverse artists to tell their own authentic stories in the context of the pandemic," said AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth, speaking at the launch.
Bosnian Australian artist Saidin Salkic survived the horrors of the Srebrenica massacre in his homeIand and has established himself as one of Australia's leading contemporary artists.
The filmmaker, poet, writer and visual artist says the pandemic inspired him to celebrate Australian culture.
“The artist always must retreat inside himself, pandemic has not changed anything in that regard for me," Saidin said.
“What it did, it inspired me to help celebrate Australian culture, try to add to it, evolve it in my way as an artist, introduce new ideas and help further its cultural and artistic identity. It inspired me to give, care and appreciate my country," he said.
Chris Phung is a second-generation Vietnamese-Australian. Currently studying sociology, Chris is a passionate advocate for refugee and migrant youth rights.
“I'm excited to be part of Heartland this year. I feel like the exhibition is so important especially at a time when we are socially distanced from each other," Chris said.
“For my contribution, I wanted to take a look at my mum's connection to country and to nature and landscape around the suburbs and too understand how important it is for her to find strength and stability in such a strange isolating year," he said.
The Heartlands 2020 exhibition can be viewed here: https://heartlands.ames.net.au