Time’s Slow Passing: Voices Between Past and Present

Exhibition Opens Saturday 2 May (Extended until further notice)

Location: Level 1 Gallery, Museum of Chinese Australian History

Free with the normal price of museum admission

This exhibition centres on the story of Jong Ah Siug, a nineteenth-century Chinese miner in colonial Australia who was unjustly confined in a mental asylum for over thirty years.

Organised in four sections, it interweaves contemporary artworks by artist John Young, created in response to Jong’s story, opening a dialogue across time and reflecting on memory, suffering, and the persistence of life.

Drawing on archival materials and historical newspaper illustrations, the exhibition reconstructs the visual landscape of the nineteenth century, situating Jong’s experience within the broader conditions faced by early Chinese migrants. It reveals the profound impact that cultural mistranslation, miscommunication, and systemic prejudice had on individual lives.

Exhibition Opening Ceremony

Saturday 2 May 2PM

Location: Level 1 Gallery, Museum of Chinese Australian History

RSVP

A highlight of the opening event will be a special artist talk by John Young, offering deeper insight into his creative process and the historical research behind the exhibition - Active Memory: Retracing Jong Ah Siug’s Incarceration Diary

Jon Ah Siug was incarcerated in lunatic asylums in Victoria for over three decades whilst he was writing his diary to prove his innocence. What were the conditions and struggles he may have endured over this time to produce this tiny diary to prove his sanity and innocence? The artist evokes a state of empathy of this condition via imagination and artistic reenactment; and explores the capacity of artistic practice to awaken a sense of historical experience today.

Curated by Aimee Li and Shihan Liu.

Accessibility

Please note that the museum lift will be unavailable to visitors requiring accessibility assistance until further notice. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.