Reclaiming Narratives: Melbourne artists respond to I Am Not A Virus

Reclaiming Narratives: Melbourne Artists respond to I Am Not A Virus is an artist-led exhibition series to confront xenophobia, bust stereotypes and provide a counter-narrative to issues of long-standing racism in Australia that are revealing themselves in the face of COVID-19. The project responds to the increase in racist attacks including verbal threats, physical intimidation, denial of services, workplace discrimination and being coughed and spat upon since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Melbourne exhibition will be held at PROJECT SPACE SPARE ROOM (RMIT University) from 16 November –⁠ 3 December at Building 94, Level 2, Room 1m 23-27 Cardigan St Melbourne. Please read COVID-19 Update before your visit.

This exhibition features work from:

Sophia Cai, Yunyang Cen, Yeon Ju Chun, Tessa-May Chung, Jacqueline Dixon, Sai-Wai Foo, Jingwen (Jina) He, Derek Ho, Wina Jie, Judy Kuo, Phu La, Youbi Lee, Mimi Leung, Feifei Liao, Nathan Liow, Jacqueline Lo, Jocelin Meredith, Deborah Ong & Joe Paradise Lui, Sean Stephen Ryan, Elina Simbolon, Sicheng Shuai, Sarah Tan & Deborah Faye Lee, Clarine Wilmar, Benjamin Tsok Wee Yap, Kelly Yoon, and Maggz & Amy Zhang

Join us for the online launch on 19 November, featuring speakers: 

Dr Tammy Wong Hulbert, Contemporary Art, Society and Transformation (CAST) Research Group (Chair)
Lena Nahlous, Executive Director, Diversity Arts Australia
Kristen Sharp, Associate Dean, School of Art, RMIT University
Mara Braun, Curatorial Collective (Panel moderator)
Kevin Bathman, Co-Curator of I Am Not A Virus, Diversity Arts Australia
Wilson Yeung Chun Wai, Co-Curator of I Am Not A Virus, Curatorial Collective and Contemporary Art, Society and Transformation (CAST) Research Group
Erin Chew, Author of the COVID-19 Racial attack report at I Am Not A Virus, Co-Founder of Asian Australian Alliance
Imogen Yang, Artist, Selection Panelist of I Am Not A Virus

Acknowledgements

Reclaiming Narratives is a project of Diversity Arts Australia in partnership with: Contemporary Art and Social Transformation (CAST) Migration + Mobility + Art project, RMIT University; The Curatorial Collective and Melbourne Fringe Festival.

I Am Not A Virus is an initiative of Diversity Arts Australia in partnership with the Asian Australian Alliance, Democracy in Colour and 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art with financial support from the Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria, Create NSW, City of Sydney, City of Parramatta and Inner West Council.

Project supporters from Melbourne include: RMIT Curatorial Collective, Creative Brimbank, Melbourne Fringe Festival, RMIT Contemporary Art and Social Transformation (CAST) research group, RMIT INTERSECT, and RMIT Student Life.