BE Kwat Lie
Born: 27 February 1882 – Died: 15 February 1943
Particulars:
Kwat Lie was born in Formosa, now Taiwan. He was a married man with six daughters living in Solo, Java in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. When the Pacific War broke out, he was taken to Australia and interned at Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia. He was in and out of different hospitals soon after he was interned, and died of haematemesis a year later. He was 60 years old. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
Tzu-Ling Wang
Artist/s Statement:
This work is presented in the form of a collage of photographs and documents, various mediums pieced together depicting the life story of Be Kwat Lie. This piece incorporates elements such as an old chair, sea coast, a memorial bouquet, trees, and official documents from Australia about Be Kwat Lie. The old rattan chair symbolises home, the coast represents his migration journey and being adrift at sea, while the memorial bouquet and trees convey a blessing, so that he can reunite with his wife and children in the heavens, and be reborn.
Artist Bio:
Tzu-Ling Wang specialises in art education and special education, and has a passion for film photography. Through her lens, she aims to capture the workings of the world, using image as a medium to document and narrate unfolding events within society.