INHERITANCE

Phuong Ngo

Curated by Amelia Winata

18 October 2025 - 24 January 2026
(closed 14 December 2025–12 January 2026)
Exhibition Opening: Saturday 18 October 2025, 3pm
Artist & Curator Talks: Saturday 18 October, 2.30pm

Phuong Ngo is a Naarm/Melbourne-based artist and curator, whose practice is concerned with the interpretation of history, memory and place, and how it interfaces with contemporary sociopolitical issues. Inheritance seeks to reframe and heal histories of colonialism, war and displacement through art. Through archival materials, video, and performance, Inheritance reconfigures post-colonial, familial and geographical relationships across South Vietnam, Tarntanya/Adelaide, Naarm/Melbourne and Kamberri/Canberra, in an attempt to deepen connections with the past, present and future. In doing so, the project aims to transform suffering and how we relate to it, to re-image what was lost and gift it to future generations of the Vietnamese diaspora.

Inheritance is an ongoing and ever evolving project which was first exhibited at West Space (Naarm/Melbourne) from 12 April - 7 June 2025. Canberra Contemporary will present the second stage of the project, and each iteration of the exhibition will be different and tailored in response to place and space.

Ngo was supported by Creative Australia's VACS Major Commissioning Projects grant to realise Inheritance.

This exhibition is accompanied by a photobook published by Slow Burn Books. You can purchase a copy at Canberra Contemporary or online.

Inheritance is powered by Lūpa, a media player for art galleries. More information can be found at lupaplayer.com

Image: Phuong Ngo, Inheritance 2025, installation view, West Space, Collingwood Yards. Photo by Janelle Low.