James Nguyen Examines Agent Orange Legacy in Parramatta River
At the Fairfield City Museum & Gallery in Sydney, James Nguyen presents his exhibition SÔNG SỐNG SONG, which delves into the lasting effects of Agent Orange on the Parramatta River. In 1968, Nguyen's family plantation in Bảo Lộc, Vietnam, was subjected to the herbicide before they relocated to Western Sydney. Collaborating with his family, the exhibition showcases a significant installation of shirts cleansed in the Parramatta River, alongside a video featuring Nguyen's mother and local Vietnamese aunties performing survival songs by the riverbank. This exhibition is open to the public from 28 March to 18 July 2026.
Key facts
- James Nguyen is based in Sydney.
- The exhibition is titled SÔNG SỐNG SONG.
- It examines the lingering effects of Agent Orange.
- Agent Orange is present in the Parramatta River.
- Nguyen's family plantation in Bảo Lộc, Vietnam was sprayed with Agent Orange in 1968.
- The family migrated to Western Sydney after the spraying.
- The exhibition includes a large-scale installation of shirts washed in the Parramatta River.
- A video features Nguyen's mother and local Vietnamese aunties singing survival songs by the river.
- The exhibition is at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery.
- Dates: 28 March to 18 July 2026.
Entities
Artists
- James Nguyen
Institutions
- Fairfield City Museum & Gallery
Locations
- Sydney
- Australia
- Parramatta River
- Bảo Lộc
- Vietnam
- Western Sydney