Current Exhibitions

Acro’s Knowing Me/Knowing YOU photography program was made possible through a Brisbane City Council's Creative Sparks Grant in 2010 and partnerships with the QCP, The Edge and Griffith University.

Eleven participants from refugee backgrounds spent 8 days over one month with photographer Melly Nio and CCD worker Ally Wakefield from QPSST. During this time the young people gained photographic skills using digital and disposable cameras while exploring their experiences of arrival and settlement in Australia.

Merhawit’s (16) family are from Ethiopia and were forced to leave because of the war with Eritrea. She was born in Sudan but strongly identifies as Ethiopian. She arrived in Australia in 2004. She likes many sports especially running, and basketball and performs with an Ethiopian dance troupe. Merhawit’s photography captures memories of the past to explore what went wrong and how her present life in Australia is different. She wants to capture feelings of loss, describe who she is now and how she feels about the future. Her photo of the twins are about her siblings that died when they were babies. The photo reminds her of how difficult life can be. She had 10 brothers and sisters and five of them have died due to poverty and sickness.

Moo Moo (14) was born in Burma of Karen ethnicity, and her family had to flee to Thailand when she was 2 years old. She grew up in the Tham Hin refugee camp where her family had to build a shelter to live in the forest. She came to Australia in 2007. Her dream is to go to university so she can study and help other countries working with the UN or as a teacher. Moo Moo’s photography captures the contrast of her past where life in Thailand was like a jail and her life now where she has more freedom. She likes to capture the contrast of people through her photos such as the way people act outwardly and how they feel inside. She also hopes to captures the two parts of her life including the past and the present.

Moo Paw’s (16) family are Karen, from Burma but she was born in Thailand and grew up in two refugee camps. She arrived in Australia in 2007. She enjoys computing, watching Thai movies and hip hop dancing. She wants to share Karen culture through her photos. Although she doesn’t know Burma, she feels very connected to her Karen culture from stories from her mother. She also likes to take photos of buildings that symbolise growing up.

Selee (13) is of Karen ethnicity, born in Burma but her family was forced to leave Burma when she was one month old. She grew up in Tham Hin refugee camp in Thailand. She enjoys sport including soccer and AFL. Selee wants to express and share her story, place, Karen culture and people in her photos. She likes to reflect on the differences between place and culture.

Cho Cho (16) is of Karen ethnicity, was born in Burma and her family moved to Thailand when she was 2 years old. She grew up in Tham Hin refugee camp and arrived in Australia in 2007. She likes sport, singing and listening to music. She wants to capture her pride of Karen culture in her photos and the differences between Karen culture and Australian culture. She wants to express her identity as Karen and Australian in her photos.

Mulu (13) was born in Sudan but his family is originally from Ethiopia. He enjoys rugby. He likes to take photos of his home and his culture.

Gray Gray’s (14) family are Karen, from Burma but was born in Thailand. She came to Australia in 2007. She photographs deserted places because it reminds her of what her family lost in Burma. Her family owned a big house, elephants and cows but it has all been taken over by the Burmese. She enjoys the multicultural society in Australia.

Pre Pre (14) is of Karen ethnicity, was born in Burma and had to leave when she was 2 years old. Her mother had to carry her on her back to Thailand. She enjoys singing. Her photography expresses how Karen people have suffered and the ongoing violence that is happening in Burma now. She also likes to capture the difference between her old life and her present life now where she feels safe.

Simplice (14) was born in Congo RDC but was forced to move to Cameroon because of war and poverty. His family moved to many countries in Africa but spent the most time in Benin. He moved to Australia in 2007 due to his Dad’s efforts to make a better life for his children. Although he has been through difficulties and suffering, he dreams of a better life in the future. He enjoys taking photos of his family and his culture where he wants to express that we can’t change the past and what happened but it is who we are.

Herve (16) is Simplice’s older brother and enjoys playing basketball and dreaming of becoming a doctor. He likes to experiment with photography.