Over three decades, Zhou Xiaoping made dozens of journeys into Aboriginal communities across the country. Photo: Laura Liu.
When Chinese artist Zhou Xiaoping stepped onto Australian soil in 1988, he was unaware of the profound connection he would forge with Aboriginal communities.
His journey began with a chance meeting with Indigenous musician Jimmy Chi, whose grandfather was Chinese.
“You can imagine, more than 30 years ago in remote areas, it was rare to see a Chinese face,” he said.
This encounter ignited Zhou’s curiosity about the intertwined histories between two ancient cultures. Over three decades, he made dozens of journeys into Aboriginal communities across the country, living alongside them. Yet the deeper he immersed himself, the more he realised “there is a blank in Australian history.”
These realisations led Zhou to assemble a research team four years ago. With limited historical documentation, they embarked on a three-year project, interviewing more than 100 descendants of Aboriginal-Chinese families and historians.
The resulting Our Story: Aboriginal-Chinese People in Australia exhibition, opening at the National Museum of Australia (NMA) this April, features contemporary artworks, personal narratives and oral histories, alongside historical photographs and archival documents.
“Families of mixed Aboriginal and Chinese descent are now widespread across Australia and are coming to recognise their shared heritage and history of marginalisation in the 19th century,” he said.
“I visited local historical societies, as well as local bars and restaurants, to talk with the residents.
“Many times when people realise they’re being interviewed, they may hesitate to speak as these are deeply personal or family matters.
“But once we build trust, they become very supportive.”
The exhibition brings together 17 contemporary works with over 30 historical and modern photographs and documents. Eight artists of Aboriginal-Chinese heritage, including Zhou Xiaoping, explore themes of identity, representation, cultural heritage and self-discovery.
Among Zhou’s contributions are 100 hand-blown glass cabbage leaves honouring the market gardening legacy shared by both cultures. Another piece features dillybags formed from thousands of tiny red lanterns, fusing Aboriginal elements with Chinese symbolism to express the deep interweaving of two traditions.
Also featured is multimedia artist Jason Wing, whose father is Chinese and his mother is a Biripi woman from New South Wales. His contributions – A.B.C. Aboriginal Born Chinese and Serpent People (Boy with Snake Belly) provide layered perspectives on dual heritage and the ongoing search for self.
“I am very proud and privileged to have both ancient Dragon and Serpent blood. Aboriginal and Chinese cultures are two of the oldest, most adaptive, resilient and powerful cultures in the world,” Jason said.
“Aboriginal-Chinese people are found throughout Australia, yet it is not common knowledge in this country or overseas.
“Our Story redresses this disparity by educating people about the remarkable cross-cultural parallels, families and relationships. It is a great honour to exhibit with significant cross-cultural artists representing and educating people about this cultural alliance historically and today.”
The exhibition is set to tour China after its presentation at the NMA. Photo: Laura Liu.
The exhibition is supported by the Museum of Chinese Australian History in Victoria and the National Museum of Australia. Dr Jilda Andrews, Deputy Director First Nations at the National Museum, is delighted the NMA is the first venue for this exhibition.
“This exhibition provides a powerful insight into the complexity of Australian history,” Dr Andrews said.
“It is an important national project that shines a light on a largely unknown and unacknowledged chapter in Australian history for many Aboriginal-Chinese people who can trace their connections back to the gold rushes of the 1850s.”
Zhou noted that history is not a distant relic but a living, breathing dialogue. He aims to provide contemporary insights and reflections through this exhibition.
“By interpreting this history through modern artistic forms, one can gain a fresh perspective,” he said.
Following its presentation at NMA, the exhibition is scheduled to tour China, with planned stops in Guangzhou, Xiamen and Fuzhou, before returning to Australia for a national tour.
Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia is open at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra, from 10 April 2025 to 27 January 2026. Entry is free. The NMA is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily, except Christmas Day. More details are available on the NMA website.
Original Article published by Laura Liu on Region Canberra.
