Exploring cultural identities

Western suburbs multidisciplinary artist Mita Chowdhury's exhibition 'Here, out at the West' is open at the Woods Street Arts Space in Laverton until Sunday, April 26. (Damjan Janevski) 325632_02

Western suburbs multidisciplinary artist Mita Chowdhury has aimed to pull back the curtains of the west’s identity and her own place in the area as part of her new exhibition.

Titled ‘Here, out at the West’, the exhibition from the Tarneit-based artist is currently open at the Laneway Gallery at the Woods Street Arts Space in Laverton.

Chowdhury said the pieces spoke as a response to the skewed perceptions others have for the western suburbs and aimed to highlight the stories of its multicultural form and its First Nations past.

“It is quite a highly multicultural community,” she said.

“I don’t think their stories are being heard.

“I am thankful and grateful to the First Nations people.”

Coming to Australia from Bangladesh in 2007 in her early 20s, Chowdhury said her work was a response to the discrimination she and others like her have faced.

“We all share the same discrimination,” she said.

“This is a manifestation of how I feel.

“I can only speak for myself.”

Receiving the RMIT University Cultural vision scholarship for 2022, Chowdhury’s work has ranged from painting to digital photomontage.

“As far as I can remember, I always wanted to be an artist,” she said.

Details: www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/visit/Experience/Whats-On/Laneway-Gallery-Mita-Chowdhury or www.facebook.com/mita.au.art

Matthew Sims