For our first exhibition of 2024 The Mill presented Riot on an Empty Street, a new exhibition of photographs by Chris Siu derived from his ongoing project Then We Keep Living. This exhibition has been developed as part of The Mill’s Visual Arts Studio Residency program presented in cooperation with the Mahmood Martin Foundation.
This Virtual Gallery includes exhibition photography and social photography from the opening night and the live stream of Chris’ artist talk.
Photo: Daniel Marks
My residency at The Mill has been dedicated to developing the long-term photography project titled Then We Keep Living. The project navigates my relationship with Hong Kong through a two-volume narrative presented in medium format analogue photography. This exploration takes place against the backdrop of the 2019 mass civil unrest in Hong Kong, followed by my life in diaspora here in Australia.
The two respective volumes delve into representations of dispossession and defiance amidst the city’s ongoing socio-political transformation, contrasting with poignant reflections on diasporic experience and its isolating facets associated with cultural displacement, marginalisation, and disconnection. The project stands as a testament to the nuanced interplay of political dilemmas, self-discovery, and the frequently overlooked, profound repercussions of civil unrest.
Photo: Daniel Marks
Social photos: Daniel Marks
Chris Siu was the recipient of The Mill’s Mahmood Martin Foundation Sponsored Studio for the January-June residency in 2023.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
This project is supported by City of Adelaide.