Brisbane-based artists in residence Christine Ko and Louis Lim will curate the diverse experiences and unique tales of local migrant communities in a collective kite installation as Museum of Brisbane from January to May 2024.

As part of their BrisAsia Stories residency, the artists seek to collaborate with first- and second-generation migrants from a variety of cultural backgrounds and age groups in the creation of this work. As this latest iteration of the artists’ ongoing Departure exhibition, the artwork comprises of colourful kites and recollections, and will display at Museum of Brisbane from February 1 to June 7, coinciding with the annual city-wide BrisAsia Festival of Asian art, culture and cuisine.

Using kites as a symbol for the migrant experience and tapping into creative traditions, Christine and Louis will incorporate crowd-sourced family photographs into paper kites that share the duelling emotions of taking a leap into the unknown and letting the wind carry you.

“[The kites] evoke flights of joyous and naïve childlike wonder and optimism that is simultaneously at the whim of external circumstances, constantly buffeted by the surrounding environment that can sometimes lead to deep disappointment (crash landing),” the artists said.

Kites will swell the evolving community art project showcased in the Museum’s hallway entrance, accompanied by written transcripts and individual recollections for shared stories that allow larger conversations about immigration and race in Australia to take flight.

Christine and Louis will conduct informal conversations with interested participants from January 11 to March 1, 2024 followed by a kite-making workshop with the artists between March and May 2024.

This residency is delivered as part of Brisbane City Council’s BrisAsia Festival 2024, produced by Sounds Across Oceans with Official Media Partner SBS. MoB’s Artist-in-Residence program is supported by Tim Fairfax AC.