Australian Women Artists

Justine Kong Sing

Richard Graham Season 1 Episode 39

Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep. 39 Justine Kong Sing

A conversation with Monique Watkins (AGNSW)

A few of Justine Kong Sing's works are on display at the new exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW, Dangerously Modern, Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940. I had the privilege of sitting down with Monique Watkins to discuss this extraordinarily talented artist who has been largely overlooked in the Australian art canon.

.....My special guest today on the podcast is curator Monique Watkins, and this discussion took place in the Art Gallery of NSW. We were discussing the relatively unknown but brilliant, Justine Kong Sing.

Monique Watkins is a curator, writer and editor with experience working at leading cultural organisations in Sydney, including Kaldor Public Art Projects, White Rabbit Gallery and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. She contributed an essay on Justine for the accompanying book to the exhibition Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940. Monique's research has helped pave the way for a wider appreciation of Justine's work.

Justine Kong Sing grew up in rural New South Wales during the 1870s and 1880s. As the daughter of a Hong Kong Chinese miner, she navigated the (I guess the polite way of saying it is...) complex social landscape of late 19th and early 20th century Australia ...all the while establishing herself as a skilled artist whose work would eventually gain recognition in major galleries across Australia and Europe. It’s a fascinating story often overlooked. 


To hear our conversation head to the link in my bio above or head to wherever you find your podcasts.  



Instagram images

 1. Me, 1912

watercolour on ivory

Dimensions

6.1 x 4.5 cm

 

2. Chums 1911

Materials used

watercolour on ivory

Dimensions

9.5 x 7.4 cm 

 

3. Madame Sze, wife of the Chinese Minister
 (c. 1914-1916)

watercolour on ivory

Measurements
 9.5 × 7.7 cm