Developed from Tammy’s MoB Artist in Residence and exhibition, Fractured Dreams & Indefinite Scars in 2021, the inspiration for this publication dates back to 1986, when three generations of Tammy’s mother’s family were deported from Australia. Tammy’s mother, who was pregnant with her at the time, was left behind to pick up the pieces. Since becoming a mother herself, Tammy began to reflect on the ways that trauma can be intergenerational, how it can reside in our DNA and be passed down.
Cancelled & Removed revolves around the personal experiences of five families who have had loved ones deported or threatened with deportation from Queensland. Assisted by recollections from her mother, and storytelling from her siblings, writers Benjamin Law and Michelle Law, Cancelled & Removed sees Tammy Law delving into personal histories that challenge and inspire conversations around forced migration.
At this intimate evening in the Museum, Tammy discusses her important new publication with Senior Lecturer and Director of Journalism at Griffith University, Dr Kasun Ubayasiri.
Please register your attendance to secure a spot. Walk-ins are also welcomed on the night, space permitting.
Drinks will be available for purchase at the bar and light nibbles provided. Attendees under 18 years of age will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Copies of Cancelled & Removed will be available for purchase on the night (RRP $65). This limited edition of 50 has been published by M.33 and will be available after the launch online here.
MoB’s Artist in Residence program is supported by Tim Fairfax AC.
Tammy Law’s documentary photographic practice revolves around issues of migration, diaspora and cultural difference. Informed by her experiences of being Asian Australian, Tammy’s work explores the complexities of displacement and the emotional, psychological and physical dislocations that occur. Since 2007, Tammy’s work has been regularly exhibited across Australia and internationally. Last year she was awarded a Queensland Artist Grant to publish her artist book, Cancelled & Removed. In addition to being an established photographer, she has curated and exhibited the work of others. Tammy’s freelance photography has been widely published, with clients including NPR, Greenpeace, The Wall Street Journal, Broadsheet and The Saturday Paper.
Dr Kasun Ubayasiri is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Journalism at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. He is the Director of the Griffith University based environmental social justice communication project, the Water Story. His academic research focuses on the role of news media in armed conflict; media coverage of human rights issues; and media censorship and its impact on democratic accountability. Dr Ubayasiri has conducted extensive research on the civil war in Sri Lanka, and his research interests focus predominantly on South and Southeast Asian countries. He is a member of the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR) and the co-author of Journalism for Social Change in Asia: Reporting Human Rights.
