William Yang: Milestone

Celebrating his 80th birthday, William Yang, one of Australia’s most revered visual and performance artists, reflects on his remarkable life in Milestone. 

Drawing on his vast collection of documentary photographs and poignant personal reminiscences, Yang weaves together themes of family, cultural and sexual identity with his signature blend of warmth, disarming humour and total candour. 

Set against Elena Kats-Chernin’s haunting score, performed live by a chamber ensemble, Milestone is the life of a Chinese-Australian artist chronicling queer stories in Australia, from the early days of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and 90s. 

Above all, from his viewpoint as the last of his generation, Milestone is Yang contemplating the importance of family and the ties binding relations all around the world.