Refugees

Overview

What do Helmut Newton, Judy Cassab, Yoko Ono and Ai Wei Wei have in common? They're all world-renowned artists and they all come from refugee backgrounds.

Some of their works, as well as those from 19 other artists who had similar experiences, are brought together in this powerful exhibition titled, simply, Refugees. Gathered from public and private collections all over Australia, the 65 pieces have never before been displayed in Western Sydney.

Other names in the mix are Marc Chagall, Max Ernst, Lucian Freud and Aida Tomescu. Plus, there are two new works by Australian artists Guo Jian and Ah Xian, commissioned for the exhibition.

Collectively, they explore the many dimensions of the refugee's plight, from being forced to leave home to taking risks on boats to arriving in strange countries. Australia's hardline treatment of asylum seekers is also examined.