4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art has been a host organisation with Digital Diasporas since its inception in 2021. Digital Diasporas is a distributed, remote residency that gives artists the space to research, cultivate their practice, and convene across borders. 

2021: August 2021

In 2021, Chinese-Canadian artist Amy Ching-Yan Lam embarked on a virtual residency with 4A, focusing on the re-development of her research projects, 'A DOG BEGGING' and 'Looty Goes to Heaven.' These projects delved into the captivating story of Looty, a Pekingese dog of aristocratic descent who was kidnapped after the Opium Wars in Hong Kong. Through Amy's work, Looty's narrative was reimagined, offering alternative realities for the dog who had been renamed Looty by Queen Victoria. In this exploration, the project unravelled the intricate tapestry of colonial history, stemming from the establishment of global industries such as tea and opium and leading to the perpetuation of Sinophobic myths and structural oppression that still affect our lives today. Beyond Looty's tale, Lam also dissected the profound connections between this story and the concepts of property, ownership, and the use of time.

This Digital Diasporas Global Residencies was jointly funded by the Australian Council for the Arts and the Canada Council for the Arts, and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

2023: May 2023

Digital Diasporas was brought back for a second iteration with an additional residency host in the United States, and 4A hosted New York-based artist and filmmaker Winnie Cheung as the resident for 2023.

Over six weeks, Winnie embarked on a research project tracing the evolution of Chinese folklore across various dimensions, including creation myths, Chinese religions, philosophy, rituals, theatre, television, film, and digital technologies. In the process, she engaged in enlightening discussions with 4A about her filmmaking practice and the potential translation of her body of work into the realm of fine art. As a self-taught artist, Winnie was also interested in learning more about how fine arts operated. She immersed herself in Yáo Collaborative’s discord community in order to connect with other artists of the Chinese Diaspora from around the world. 

Winnie's residency journey with 4A culminated with an episode of 4A Talks during her visit to SXSW Sydney in October 2023.

This Digital Diasporas Global Residencies was jointly funded by Creative Australia and the Canada Council for the Arts, and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations. Digital Diasporas is a yáo collaborative international initiative.