James Nguyen's 'SÔNG SỐNG SONG (rivers, life, death) _ a river song'
Parramatta Artists Studios — 2026About
SÔNG SỐNG SONG (rivers, life, death) _ a river song; a major new site-responsive performance commissioned by Parramatta Artists Studio and Parramatta Lanes 2026.
From 21-24 October, a choir of intergenerational voices will gather at Marsden Street Weir on the banks of the Parramatta River.
At sunset each day, the performance begins - animated by a choreography of washing and cleansing with water drawn directly from the weir, the choir will perform a traditional Vietnamese song cycle; a watery lament to fill the air and course down the river.
James Nguyen and his family migrated to Australia after Agent Orange was sprayed on their plantations in the highlands of Vietnam. Resettled in Western Sydney, many believed they were free of these chemical spectres, unaware that Agent Orange was manufactured up along the banks of the Parramatta River.
Developed with poet and songwriter Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, choreographer and guitarist Nguyen Cong Chinh, SÔNG SÔNG SONG reflects on these intertwined histories. Performed by community choristers, including members of Nguyen’s own family, the work transforms the riverbank into a site of gathering and remembrance, tracing the colonial complicities of loss, displacement and environmental degradation that connect Vietnam and Australia.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body through The Visual Arts and Craft Strategy (VACS).
Commissioned by Parramatta Artists Studios
