Cultural rituals: memory, identity and transformation

Rituals serve as more than just markers of time – they’re living archives of memory, embodying heritage, resistance and transformation.

From communal ceremonies to intimate traditions, they connect the past with the present and offer a sense of continuity in an ever-changing world.

How do cultural rituals and practices evolve when transplanted across borders, blending with new environments while maintaining ties to their origins? Examine the tension between preserving authenticity and embracing reinvention, questioning what is lost, what is gained and how these dynamics influence identity formation.

By focusing on the intersections of art, migration and cultural heritage, we’ll discuss the ways rituals sustain communities, spark creativity and act as tools for reclaiming and reshaping identity in response to modern challenges.

Panel members will reflect on their own experiences with rituals, addressing themes of hybridity, memory and the role of agency in shaping traditions. We invite you to reflect on the rituals that shape your own life and how they contribute to the collective fabric of our diverse society.

Panellists:

• Moderated by Patrick Madden: Co-Director of Passage Gallery

• Tian Zhang: Independent curator, facilitator and writer, and founding co-director of Pari, a collective-run gallery in Parramatta. Tian will share insights from her curatorial practice, working with Asian-Australian and diasporic artists.

• Agus Wijaya: Exhibiting artist at Passage Gallery, Agus will draw from his artistic exploration of reconciliation between his Indonesian-Chinese heritage and Australian identity.

• Associate Professor Quah Ee Ling: Western Sydney University academic specialising in coloniality, race, migration, gender and sexuality. Associate Professor Quah will contribute her extensive research on migrant communities.

Image credit: Sisingaan Parade 2009, Sukaraja, Jawa Barat, Indonesia. Photographed by Ikhlasul Amal.