The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will host a photo exhibition titled “On Sundays, We Play” from 3 September to 17 September 2024, at the UTS Main Tower Foyer. This exhibition, led by Filipino-Australians Dr. Kristine Aquino from UTS and sports photographer James Loganathan, spotlights the lives and resilience of Filipina migrant domestic workers. A public reception, featuring a short film screening and panel discussion, is scheduled for 12 September 2024.
A Celebration of Filipino Resilience
“On Sundays, We Play” captures how every Sunday, Filipina domestic workers in Singapore transform quiet, overlooked public spaces into lively sporting venues. Dressed in bright uniforms, these women, often occupying marginal positions in society, engage in volleyball games that bring energy and life to these spaces. The exhibition aims to highlight the challenges these workers face, including being “unseen” and “unheard” in their roles as live-in domestic helpers.
The exhibition also addresses broader issues such as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) rights, gender inequality in the Philippines, and the long-standing labour migration policies of the Philippine government. It is a collaboration between sociologists and photographers Kristine Aquino, James Loganathan, Selvaraj Velayutham, and Amanda Wise. Additionally, a companion photo art book has been published by the independent feminist press Gantala Press, featuring photographic ethnography, poems, and essays by the volleyball-playing domestic workers.
Shared Experiences and Community Building
The themes explored in “On Sundays, We Play” resonate with the Filipino community in Australia, where many migrants face similar challenges, including visa precarity and workforce vulnerability. Social sports serve as a means for these migrants to build connections and support networks, reflecting the experiences of Filipina domestic workers in Singapore.
This exhibition is part of UTS Global Goals Month, which includes panels, workshops, and exhibitions focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For more information and to register for the event, visit https://events.humanitix.com/chats-for-the-goals-on-sundays-we-play.
After its initial exhibition in Singapore at the UltraSuperNew Gallery in December 2023, “On Sundays, We Play” will be shown at the Ateneo Library of Women’s Writing (ALiWW) at Ateneo De Manila University from 2 October to 16 October 2024.
