A Seat At The โต๊ะ
Ellamay Khongroj Fitzgerald
12 September – 11 October 2025
A Seat At The Table reimagines the gallery as a communal space for gathering and exchange, where food becomes a conduit for exploring identity, sharing intergenerational stories, and deepening connections to cultural heritage. Through lens-based storytelling and installation, the exhibition explores the continuation of cultural practices while amplifying Australian Asian stories and identities.
Ellamay Khongroj Fitzgerald is an emerging artist based on Yugambeh Country. Her lens-based practice spans across photography, video and new media with an ongoing exploration into her dual Australian and Thai heritage. Ellamay's work is largely influenced by her lived experiences growing up bi-racial on the Gold Coast and perceptions of culture, identity and place as a second generation Asian Australian.
Ellamay’s practice engages critical storytelling by inviting participants to explore visual and sensory memories, and to share personal, historical and geographical stories. These stories include memories of childhood, cultural tradition and familial connections of the participants. Her work mirrors as a method of self-inquiry, informed through exploration into her own personal history and ancestry. Since her trips back to Thailand in 2023-24, Ellamay has further deepened existing family connections and ancestral knowledge through spending time with her Grandmother who currently resides in Chiang Mai, and her Father who currently resides in Gadigal/Sydney.
@ellamayphoto
A Seat At The โต๊ะ
By Ellamay Khongroj Fitzgerald
September 12 – October 11 2025Outer Space
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am–5pm
420 Brunswick Street,
Judith Wright Arts Centre,
Fortitude Valley, QLD
Exhibition Text
COMING SOON
Images courtesy of the artist.
Public Programs
COMING SOON
Artist Statement
A Seat At The Table explores food as a conduit through which identity and culture are continually shaped and redefined within the Asian diaspora. Central to this work are the stories of seven Asian Australian participants, all of whom currently live or grew up in Southeast Queensland. These personal histories reveal how cultural and ancestral connections are actively nurtured and transformed through the simple act of sharing a meal.
The work delves into food as a source of comfort, care, and emotional nourishment. It reflects on the sensory memories and experiences associated with specific dishes, considering their significance in shaping our stories of upbringing, migration and belonging. Through these culinary practices, we not only honour our ancestors but also engage in a dialogue with them, reinterpreting traditions and carving out new spaces for contemporary cultural expression. The act of preparing and sharing food becomes an intimate gesture of care, connection, and storytelling, inviting viewers to consider how food preserves and transforms cultural identity across generations.