Loong (Dragon) tale - the film
Simone is a mixed media artist currently living in Tumut NSW. Her wearable garments explore various cultures and link people to different periods of history.
The initial spark of inspiration for Loong (Dragon) tale was the vision Chinese miners – far from their homeland and culture - skiing down the slopes of the Snowy Mountains with their pigtails flying. The Chinese came to the region during the gold rush era, often as indentured labour. With extraordinary tenacity they adapted to their new (sometimes hostile) environment, shocking the local skiers with their newfound skiing skills. Their endurance and perseverance contributed greatly to the growth of many townships in the area. They set up market gardens and transported goods to the various mining communities – walking as far as 13 miles in deep snow carrying supplies in large baskets carried on their shoulders!
The summer bushfires of 2019/2020 impacted greatly on these same communities. Businesses, farms, bushland and homes were destroyed. The present-day population are now demonstrating their tenacity and resilience. Whilst the Chinese population is now dispersed, their enduring legacy remains a part of the fabric of the region.
The piece features zhezhi, a style of paper folding which celebrates and references the invention of paper by the Chinese in 100CE. Greaseproof paper is used, reflecting the Chinese cultural tradition of utilising greaseproof paper in lantern making. The flower designs show the connection to nature, celebrating the gardening skills of the settlers and emphasising the region’s agricultural activity despite being ravaged by fire.
A traditional female costume design, the AO, has been constructed from shoji paper. The inside of the coat depicts faces of the Chinese settlers. A QUN skirt of the period is worn under the tunic top.
The elaborate headpiece features a funeral tower and one single burnt flower. The flower is all that remains from a ceremonial burning of the original headpiece. This symbolic act took place on a friend of the artist’s property in Batlow (running alongside an old Chinese gold prospecting site) which was completely burnt out during the summer fires. Ashes from the ceremony have been deposited in the funeral tower. The artist explains: ‘…although something is burnt to the ground, memories and stories still remain… from destruction comes regeneration, growth and redevelopment’.
Materials: Japanese Awagami Kinwashi, Momigami (soft and hard), greaseproof paper, tissue paper (shellac coated and plain).
Link https://recollections.nma.gov.au/issues/volume_8_number_2/papers/chinese_skiers The Chinese Skiers of Kiandra
Link http://chl-old.anu.edu.au/publications/csds/csds2014/csds2014_10.pdf Chinese influence on both sides of the Snowy Mountains
Images Chinese Settlement