IN THE GALLERY: Blonde-haired Blue-Eyed Nothing

Janelle Low

31 May - 21 Jun 2014

“What’s your background?”

“Why does it matter?”

“Nah, come on, what’s your background?”

“I’m Australian. I was born here.”

“But where are your parents from?”

“Why does it matter?”

“Come on, what’s your background? You Japanese? You Korean? You eat sushi?”

I desperately, with every fibre of my being wanted to have blonde hair and blue eyes as a kid. I dreamt and wished on countless birthday candles, shooting stars, and wishing wells. I even prayed to god that one day I’d wake up with beautiful, shiny blonde hair, light blue eyes, and finally be ‘normal’.

Blonde-Haired Blue-Eyed Nothing is an exploration of my own and others’ experiences growing up in multicultural Australia. Through a series of environmental portraits and staged still-lifes I aim to address some of the unresolved conflicts, both internal and external, that each individual undergoes growing up in the diverse and evolving cultural landscape of Australia. – Janelle Low