Hand-cut papers map out intricate Japanese-Australian histories in Townsville

Artist Elysha Rei hopes to create an emotional reaction to a lesser known history of Japanese migrant workers.
A paper cut artwork of a red chrysanthemum inside a white cage.

In 1896, the first Japanese Consulate in Australia was established in Townsville, where there was a large community of around 4000 Japanese migrant workers. They were drawn to this area by harvesting industries, including pearl and sugar cane.

This history will be intricately mapped out in an exhibition by artist Elysha Rei using hand-cut washi paper at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts in June.

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Celina Lei is ArtsHub's Content Manager. She has previously worked across global art hubs in Beijing, Hong Kong and New York in both the commercial art sector and art criticism. She took part in drafting NAVA’s revised Code of Practice - Art Fairs and was the project manager of ArtsHub’s diverse writers initiative, Amplify Collective. Celina is based in Naarm/Melbourne. Instagram @lleizy_