Exhibits,

Slippage: Phuong Ngo, Hwafern Quach Expansionism IV

Opening: Wednesday 13 February 6-8 pm Dates: 13 February - 9 March 2019

Expansionism IV is an exhibition that engages with complex global issues, examining the fluctuation of power within international political structures. Comprising of the work Mooncake, the exhibition examines the current aims of the Chinese Government to enhance its economic, military and geographic imperialism. The exhibition utilises vernacular cultures to interrogate the history of Chinese occupation in places such as Vietnam, and subsequently offer an alternative reading into the currently disputed territories in the South China Sea.

Consisting initially of 888 celadon glazed mooncakes cast from traditional hand carved moulds sourced from North Vietnam; Mooncake is an ongoing 10-part work examining the historic expansionism of China. Utilising the mooncake, a ubiquitous cultural item in Asia that has its origins in China, the work comments on shared cultural values while critiquing China’s current position on and in the South China Sea. With each reiteration of the work a further 888 mooncakes will be added, expanding the work in direct response to the ‘rise of China’.

Slippage is a collaborative practice by Australian born Chinese Vietnamese contemporary artist Hwafern Quach and Phuong Ngo. Slippage examines the cycles of history in conjunction with current geopolitical and economic issues through the lens of vernacular cultures, artefacts and language.

www.slippage.com.au