Chinalian

BACKGROUND Chinalian refers to those of Chinese origin who have been "in Australia so long they possess dinky di, ridgy didge, true blue, fair dinkum, dead set wanker qualities." The exhibition Gateway draws its inspiration from the gateways of Chinatown, a symbol and entry point of Chinatowns internationally. Traditionally, these gateways represent a point of connection between different cultures and announce the presence of the Chinese community and their longstanding contribution to other societies. Such gateways also represent a demarcation of physical territory within the city: territory that cannot be so clearly defined culturally. The other 12 featured artists from Australia and China, each of whom who have been inspired by the environment and heritage of Chinatown (from multiple perspectives) were Cameron Robbins, Clare Leporati, Greg Szopa, Claire Tracey, Joanna Buckley, Shao Xiong Chia, Tammy Wong, Geoff Hogg, Ceri Hann, Junian Clavijo, Wei Tianyu and Angela Zhang. CONTRIBUTION Chinalian contributed to the field of new cultural mapping of identity through research into real and imagined historical connections to China's explorations of the region in the 1400s. The imagery draws on 15th century navigational maps, a disputed 17th century map, and a Ming painting, together with contemporary maps, texts and photographs taken by McCormick in Beijing as part of a Red Gate Gallery residency. The fragmented montage incorporating photography, text and drawing references the review and re-assemblage of difference to create new cultural maps. It builds on McCormick's research into the conceptualisation of belonging in an urban, but also Asian, century. SIGNIFICANCE Gateway was the inaugural exhibition of the Art in Chinatown Strategy to develop contemporary art opportunities within the traditional setting of Melbourne's Chinatown in association with the internationally renowned Australian Chinese Museum and the RMIT Design Research Institute and the Mediated City.