Fractured Dreams & Indefinite Scars, Tammy’s residency and exhibition for BrisAsia Festival will explore the ways in which immigration laws and processes impact family narratives and histories.
In 1986, three generations of Tammy’s family were deported from Queensland. Her mother was pregnant with Tammy at the time. Since becoming a mother herself, Tammy has begun to reflect on the ways that trauma can be intergenerational, how it can reside in your DNA and be passed down.
Assisted by the recollections of her mother Jenny Phang, and the storytelling of siblings Michelle and Benjamin Law, Tammy will document personal stories and histories to challenge, instigate and inspire conversations around forced migration. The project aims to develop new understandings between those who have lived experiences of deportation and the public.
Tammy’s documentary photographic practice revolves around issues of migration, diaspora and cultural difference, informed by her experiences of being Asian Australian. Her work explores the complexities of displacement and the emotional, psychological and physical dislocations that occur.
Meet Tammy: You’ll find Tammy in MoB’s open studio in the Adelaide Street Pavilion on Wednesdays and Sundays from 10am-2pm, during her residency.
Join in: During the residency, the public is invited to contribute to Tammy’s exhibition through an interactive paper folding activity.
About BrisAsia Stories: Part of BrisAsia Festival, BrisAsia Stories is an initiative designed to explore Brisbane’s evolving cultural identity through exhibitions, panel discussions and community engagement activations. The program shares stories that foster deeper cultural awareness and provides contexts for meaningful intercultural discourse, knowledge sharing and learning.
Image: Tammy Law, Correctional Facility, Brisbane. 2020, digital photograph.
