Thomas C. Chung
'I Don’t Know Where I Belong … But I Know Where I’m From' | 2022
bio:
Thomas C. Chung is a Melbourne-based Chinese-Australian contemporary artist devoting a lifelong conceptual practice exploring the childlike psyche. In 2004, Chung completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the College of Fine Arts, UNSW. He is currently pursuing a future in psychotherapy for further artistic research. In the last several years he has been invited to participate in the 2nd Land Art Biennial in Mongolia, 4th Ghetto Biennale in Haiti, 9th Shiryaevo Biennale in Russia, 1st Karachi Biennale in Pakistan and The APS Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale in Malta. His recent exhibitions have included Future Ready: Survival Now + Next, Anchorage Museum, USA; The 40th Alice Prize, Araluen Arts Centre, Australia; The 65th Blake Prize, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Australia; Central Russian Zen, National Centre for Contemporary Arts, Russia.
"'I Don’t Know Where I Belong … But I Know Where I’m From'" 2022
Exploring Kandos as its focal point, this photographic installation is a collaboration with the artist and Kandos High School art students. The work considers a Kandos history, where labour and activity once thrived. As a nation, Australia has had a complicated past, dictated by actions that can no longer be changed. ‘I Don’t Know Where I Belong … But I Know Where I’m From’ uncovers residual thoughts in the form of a cascading curtain, linking both the history and future of this community through the words of its young people.
statement:
Thomas’s artistic practice is about seeing the world through the eyes of a child - food, toys, paintings, drawings, knitting, crocheting, photography, sculpture, performance and art installations are some of the mediums or motifs he has used. At its deepest level, he is researching the childlike psyche an approach to understanding the world as an empath, exploring the world through ‘emotional landscapes’. This lifelong narrative is a conceptual fusion of artworks, divided into decade-long chapters - much like a giant storybook - mediating his interests in psychology, philosophy and contemporary aesthetics. Thomas is currently studying a Master’s degree at Cairnmillar Institute to further his practice as a psychotherapist.
Quarry Manager's House
