From February 3 until March 7, photographer Andrew Wilson and myself will be at the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart, conducting portrait sessions with participants from the 177 Nations of Tasmania podcast. The portraits from these sessions will make up an ongoing display in the Henry Jones gallery during the same period.
In this video I filmed a little of the behind the scenes with a group of 5 participants as a bit of a trial run. I also asked Aidan TKay ( Uganda/Rwanda), Denisse (Ecuador), Cholpon Tabyldieva Bond (Kyrgyzstan), Cedrick ( Democratic Republic of Congo) and Loni (Samoa) about their experiences of being photographed and representing a bit of their heritage. We hope this gives people a bit of an idea of what to expect when they come in to see us at the The Henry Jones Art Hotel in February/March, and that there's nothing really to be nervous about :-).
The project is supported by City of Hobart
Multicultural Council of Tasmania
Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania
Samoan Cultural Collective - TAS
ABC Hobart
The Mercury Newspaper Tasmania Times
Olga and Yuri grew up in the old Soviet Union, and became part of a group of political refuseniks who raised the ire of the authorities. In this clip, Olga describes a threatening visit from a KGB agent at her home while her husband Yuri was in prison.
To hear the rest of Olga and Yuri's story, which sounds like he could have come out of a Russian novel, listen here - https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/dWufTNh3FNb
Lebanon is a country that has had its fair share of war and strife. In this clip, Ali describes his memories of going to school in what was essentially a warzone in Beirut in the 1980s.
To hear more of Ali's fascinating story, you can listen to the full episode here : https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/X5gsbnzBuNb
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Teodor grew up in small village in Transylvania in the western part of Romania just after WW2. In this clip he paints a picture of life in the village and gives an insight into the renowned Romanian tradition of storytelling.
To listen to more of Teodor's amazing life story from Romania to Tasmania via Italy, you can listen here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0OxvaYxGSpP2ob3oVXMV6i...
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Because they were part of the ethnic Nepali minority in Bhutan, Khadga's family were forced out under threat of violence. Like many others, they began the long journey to escape through the mountains to Nepal.
Listen to the rest of Khadga's story here : https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/iLVxCJ7vbMb
Adel was born in Iraq to a Palestinian father and Iraqi mother. He came to Australia as a refugee, but a refugee with good English and education. But, as he explains here, there were significant cultural differences to adapt to, especially around the style and substance of communication.
You can hear more of Adel's story here, told in wonderful and eloquent detail here - https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/YERfokAH4Mb
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This is probably one of my favourite anecdotes from the 100+ interviews I've done. Claudia came to Tasmania on a backpacking holiday, but found unexpected romance through a used car deal on Bruny Island. Here she describes how it all started.
To listen to the rest of the story : https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/kmDRH9EI0Mb
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Ieva's family fled Latvia towards the end of WW2 with the occupying German retreating as the Soviets moved. In this clip, she describes her family's first attempt to get out and the scary reason it failed.
To hear the rest of Ieva's story - https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/mSi2tQ7vbMb
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