Australia: The Italian Experience

Australia: The Italian Experience is an exhibition of photographs by Sabrina Lauriston, curated by Trudie Leigo and the artist. Between 1945 and 1970 an estimated 288,000 Italians migrated to Australia. Their contribution has been significant, helping to shape our culture, history, economy and taste buds. This exhibition offers an insight into the personal experiences of Italians who migrated to Australia during this period. In 2017 and 2019, artist and photographer Sabrina Lauriston, who migrated from Italy to Australian in 2007, and curator Trudie Leigo visited the homes of Italian immigrants in Bundaberg, Fremantle and Melbourne. They interviewed and photographed individuals. Together they were welcomed into the homes of these men and women, whose lives have spanned some of the most significant events of the twentieth century. They are the first-hand witnesses of Fascism, war, hunger, poverty, displacement, survival, depression, migration, isolation and exploration. This exhibition is in honour of all the Italian immigrants who had few choices in life, but choose one of the hardest paths to take, to leave and to make a new start.