The glory and pain of our formative years never leave us. The awkwardness, the heartache, the moments of soaring joy and the losses that crushed us often feel as real as the day they happened.
The Immigration Museum is now plumbing these universal experiences in an immersive exhibition that’ll have you feeling the entire spectrum of human emotion. They’ve presented 71 Australian coming-of-age stories that range from the monumental to the mundane, by diverse storytellers including author Alice Pung, model Andreja Pejic, disability activist Jax Jacki Brown, AFL footballer Jason Johannisen, drag queen Karen from Finance and Senator Lidia Thorpe.
Through light, sound, visual art and interactive installations, they tell of first kisses, victories and humiliations in tales that traverse time, gender, culture and orientation to celebrate our shared humanity. It’s anticipated that visitors will find themselves relating to these stories in unexpected and delightful ways, leading to the question of whether the process of becoming an adult ever really ends.
Admission is free with museum entry (adults $15, seniors $10 and free for everyone else).