Graphic design teacher’s artwork featured at National Gallery Singapore

Anthony’s work was included in Art Remembers, an exhibition that ran from 21 August to 18 October 2026, exploring how artists across Southeast Asia engaged with histories of conflict, memory and the lasting impacts of war through contemporary art.

The exhibition recognised Anthony’s long-standing exploration of cultural identity, migration, displacement and historical memory, particularly through the experiences of the Hmong people.

Anthony was invited to participate through Fading Marks, a series of 52 paintings developed between 2015 and 2016 that examined the often-overlooked history of the Hmong people during the Secret War in Laos, which took place alongside the Vietnam War.

Growing up in Australia, much of Anthony’s understanding of his family’s history came through his father’s stories, photographs and documentary footage.

These accounts connected him to events he had not experienced firsthand and shaped his understanding of his cultural identity and heritage.

Through Fading Marks, Anthony drew on historical photographic imagery, translating it into paintings that explored the fragile relationship between memory, history and representation.

“Through repetition and the process of painting, I wanted to reflect on how histories were remembered, forgotten or gradually erased,” Anthony said.

More broadly, his artistic practice sought to bring greater visibility to communities and experiences that were often absent from mainstream historical narratives.

As a Hmong Australian artist, Anthony saw the exhibition as an important opportunity to ensure these histories were included in wider conversations about Southeast Asian art and history.

Presenting his work at the National Gallery Singapore was a personal and professional milestone that allowed him to share these stories internationally.

In early October, Anthony travelled to Singapore to attend the exhibition and participate in its associated symposium, Picturing Conflict in Southeast Asia: History, Memory and Ecology.

The international symposium brought together artists, academics and researchers to discuss the connections between art, conflict and historical memory.

The visit allowed Anthony to view the exhibition, reconnect with colleagues and exchange ideas with practitioners from across the region.

As a TAFE Queensland Visual Arts and Graphic Design teacher, Anthony maintained an active connection with contemporary artistic practice.

Exhibiting internationally and participating in industry discussions helped him bring fresh perspectives, current ideas and professional insights back into the classroom.

Students gained valuable insight into how creative skills could be applied to meaningful, real-world work.

Anthony’s practice also demonstrated how visual communication could extend beyond aesthetics, using imagery, research and storytelling to explore complex ideas and give voice to underrepresented histories.

Through his artwork, Anthony explored how contemporary art could offer alternative ways of engaging with history, particularly for communities underrepresented in official accounts.

His work highlighted the power of art to preserve cultural memory; challenge established narratives and create opportunities for deeper understanding across communities.

For Anthony, these projects were not only opportunities to share his work internationally but also to contribute to ongoing discussions about identity, history and representation - perspectives he continued to bring to his teaching at TAFE Queensland.