About Open Glossary

James Nguyễn

Born in Vietnam and based in Naarm/Melbourne, James Nguyen’s interdisciplinary practice examines strategies of decolonisation, while also interrogating the politics of family history, language, displacement and diaspora. Open Glossary probes the language and terminologies that permeate contemporary art and society more widely. Nguyen and collaborators present dynamic installations, videos, performances and events that foster multi-lingual conversations on a range of contemporary issues, including Land Rights and Indigenous Constitutional Recognition, gender diversity and sexual identity, and the linguistic links and spiritual connections of Southeast Asia, First Nations Australian and Moana neighbours.

Queer Glossary is developed as part of the exhibition Open Glossary for ACCA Melbourne.
(https://acca.melbourne/exhibition/james-nguyen-open-glossary)

Many communities to this day do not have easy access to the privilege of language immersion, open practice, and investment by the nation state. Many are currently experiencing linguistic dormancy, forced erasure, and harassment. Many others are also being lovingly and tenderly reawakened from their slumber after long periods of heavy silence.

Please consider supporting:

• The Victorian Corporation for Aboriginal Languages: Schools Digital Resource Project
  (https://www.vacl.org.au/project/schools-digital-resources-project)
• The Rediscovering Indigenous language Project (https://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au)
• The Taungurung Language Dictionary (https://taungurung.com.au/product/taungurung-language-dictionary)

• Vietspeak (https://vietbilingual.org)

Artist: James Nguyễn

Curator: Shelley McSpedden

Digital Technician: Rowan McNaught

Site Design and Development: Thy Hà