Time's Slow Passing: Voices Between Past and Present

This exhibition centres on the story of Jong Ah Siug, a 19th-century Chinese miner in colonial Australia who was unjustly confined in a mental asylum for over 30 years.

Organised in four sections, it interweaves contemporary artworks by artist John Young, created in response to Jong’s story, opening a dialogue across time and reflecting on memory, suffering and the persistence of life.

Drawing on archival materials and historical newspaper illustrations, the exhibition reconstructs the visual landscape of the 19th century, situating Jong’s experience within the broader conditions faced by early Chinese migrants. It reveals the profound impact that cultural mistranslation, miscommunication and systemic prejudice had on individual lives.