Jennifer Pittorino
On Monday, May 8, the exhibition ‘A Wholesome Gang’, finished its debut showing as part of the The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival.
The creator of the exhibition Awak Rech Kongor is a South Sudanese Dinka woman and an advocate for young people within the South Sudanese community.
The exhibition featured part of Ms Kongor’s documentary that she made in 2019, following her family and friends in the St Albans community.
“At the time there was a lot of narrative going around about the African gang situation, there was a lot of heat on young South Sudanese people, so I made the documentary to counter that,” she said.
“My community raised me to be a strong independent woman. The film follows their struggles of growing up in Australia,” she said.
Ms Kongor said the festival was the perfect opportunity for her to showcase her never before seen work because she works at The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival as the emerging filmmakers fund coordinator.
“It felt like a present to myself and to my community because Footscray is where I grew up, so it felt reminiscent of that time,” she said.
“My community is something I have been very protective of over the last few years, my identity is completely wrapped in my community, it’s who I am,” she said.
Ms Kongor said the exhibition was something she wanted to do for herself and it was a bonus that her community appreciated and embraced the project.
“The film is a reminder of how far we have come on our own and how we did it so proudly, that’s why it resonates with everyone so well” she said.
The exhibition was hosted at Migrant Coffee in Footscray, a venue choice which Ms Kongor said was a no brainer.
“They represent the migrant experience, they also have a huge love of art and community so it only made sense to have it there,” she said.
