Subjects of a new art installation on the Bonacina Walkway, Boe Hsophu, AJ Arthur Junior Rapana, Daniel Carpentier carrying Mila Carpentier and Alex Paradisis with photographer Tad Souden and Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Ordinary Wollongong people with extraordinary stories are celebrated in a new public art installation on the Bonacina Walkway, Wollongong.
More than half a dozen residents with professions ranging from designer to mechanic are the subjects of photographer Tad Souden’s project.
The work consists of individual portrait photographs blown up to life-size and installed along the wall that runs along the walkway.
It highlights Wollongong’s cultural diversity, and subjects range from Boe Hsophu, a former Karenni refugee who now works with new arrivals to Australia, to second-generation Greek Australian Alex Paradisis.
Boe said she was proud to represent her community.
“Not many people know about the Karenni people, so I thought I would show Wollongong who Karenni people are,” she said.
“We are a minority ethnic group from Myanmar and most of us come to Australia as former refugees because of the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
“I was born in a refugee camp in Thailand; my parents lived there for more than 20 years after they fled Myanmar.
“I was about eight years old when we came to Australia in 2011 and I’ve lived in Wollongong ever since.”
Alex said a member of the Greek community suggested he took part, and he saw it as an opportunity to honour his father and grandfather, who first came to Australia.
He also hoped it would instill his children with a sense of pride in their family’s legacy.
“Being a second-generation Greek-Australian with an Orthodox faith, it can be hard to keep our identity from our motherland going here,” he said.
“It’s a challenge to speak the language because English is so prominent, but music, language and keeping the community connected keep the culture alive.
“I’m proud to put my dad and grandfather’s names up there and recognise them and all the achievements they have helped me with.
“My grandfather passed away two years ago, but our mechanic’s business is something he inspired dad to start.”
Tad, the photographer, said he wanted the photographs to be an authentic representation of each person’s connections to their culture.
All are shot against the same background, and the subjects were asked to bring in as many – or as few – items of clothing and cultural significance as they wanted to.
The result is a series of images that capture the deeply individual ways people treasure their connection to their heritage.
The installation was officially opened with a Cook Islands haka from AJ Arthur junior Rapana, who is also featured on the wall.
The Bonacina Walkway runs alongside Wollongong Library, and is a fitting spot for the installation.
It’s named after Giulia and Efrem Bonacina who migrated to Wollongong from Italy in 1961.
Giulia and Effrem volunteered much of their time and energy to support their new community, and were members of the Migration Heritage Project.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said she was sure they would be proud.
“I remember Effrem and Giulia and they were such warm, welcoming people,” she said.
“They knew everyone, everyone loved them, and now I reckon they’re smiling down in heaven to see the superstars on the wall here representing the faces of our community.
“It’s so welcoming and inclusive and that’s what they always strived for.”
