蟑螂 飛蛾
gaat6 zaat6*2 fei1 e2
Gut Junk. Flavour.
Pamela See (Xue Mei-Ling)
3 December 2025 - 7 January, 2026
The title of this artwork is a phonetic approximation of the Cantonese terms for cockroach and moth. This sequence of digitised papercuts acknowledges the role played by American servicemen in the transformation of the Fortitude Valley into a centre for cosmopolitan dining. During World War II, several hundred US Navy personnel were housed in New Farm. They brought and shared an affection for Sino-American cuisine.
These historical elements are symbolised through the motifs of the globally invasive: American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and Asian gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar). Whereas the former is a dominant species of cockroach in Queensland dwellings, the latter moths are yet to breech Australian biosecurity boundaries. The allegory is set amongst representations of Chinese crockery and utensils.
The composition is activated by a yellow circle, which may carry different connotations depending upon the cultural background of the viewer. Is it celebratory of the moon, as per the annual mid-Autumn observance in Asia? Or does it reflect military surveillance, as might have been undertaken during the Battle of Brisbane in the summer of 1941?
ARTIST
Pamela See (Xue Mei-Ling) is a visual artist who practises contemporary papercutting. Her motifs are translated into a myriad to media with the use of digital technology. She has both Cantonese and Hokkien heritage, which reflects the two waves of immigration from China during the 19th century. Exploring their contribution to Queensland before and during the White Australia Policy is a current research focus. She completed a PhD at the Queensland College of Art and Design in 2020.
Since the late 1990s, she has exhibited across Australia, Asia, North America and Europe. This includes contributing to exhibitions at the Qing Tong Museum (China), the Museo Gustavo de Maeztu (Spain) and Arteriet (Norway). Collections to hold examples of her artwork include the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, and the Huaxia Papercutting Museum (China),
@pamela.see.art
www.seepaperart.online
蟑螂 飛蛾
gaat6 zaat6*2 fei1 e2
Gut Junk. Flavour.
Pamela See (Xue Mei-Ling)
3 December 2025 - 7 January, 2026Belltower Facade
On display each night from 5:30pm-11:30pm
420 Brunswick Street,
Judith Wright Arts Centre,
Fortitude Valley, QLD
Gallery
Coming Soon