writer & thinker
“I’m choosing my words carefully. You know why. You understand what a blank sheet of A4 paper says. If you know, you know. And if you don’t, there’s a cost to explaining it to you.”
My first in-person theatre review since 2020 and it’s a show you really need to see for yourself: Made in China 2.0 at Malthouse Theatre.
“I like cooking, but mainly because I like eating…”
Another one for The Guardian, this time on food: some practical tips on how to feed yourself during a cost-of-living crisis, from someone who relies heavily on carbs, condiments and solidarity.
‘There’s something special about how queer culture understands exes. Maybe it’s because we know we can’t afford to lose anyone.’
For The Guardian, I wrote in favour of talking about exes on a first date – and how hetero etiquette isn’t good enough for queers (and honestly, isn’t good enough for anyone).
Little of my work would exist without Trove, the online archive that provides free access to a huge range of resources, but funding is set to expire in July 2023.
Please sign this petition to fully fund Trove so we can continue our conversations with the past. The petition closes midnight 22 Feb.
I’m running another drop-in advice sesh for emerging writers in February!
Thanks to sponsor The Suburban Review, I have 10 free spots, with priority going to First Nations, POC, trans and disabled writers.
The Drop-In with Jinghua Qian
Sunday 12 February 2023
1 pm to 2 pm AEDT
online via Zoom
free of charge – limited places, register here
more info on The Drop-In
First event of the year and it’s at my local! I’m talking to Maxine about her book How Decent Folk Behave and there’ll also be snacks and craft activities for littlies.
In conversation with Maxine Beneba Clarke
Saturday 21 January 2023
2 pm to 3 pm
Footscray Library
56 Paisley St, Footscray VIC 3011
Free – register here
It’s the hour-long dysphoria soundtrack you didn’t know you needed! And me slyly moonlighting as a selector for Double J. Featuring June Jones, Jen Cloher, Janelle Monáe, Julia Jacklin and also some artists whose names don’t start with J. Read and listen here.
My audio piece for Powerhouse Museum’s Oscillations project is finally out! It’s a chewy little story about sino/trans inscrutability, visibility and representation. Massive thanks to sound and story wizard Jon Tjhia, and everyone whose voices and ideas are part of this work: Atong Atem, Oliver Reeson, Kate Bagnall and Tim Sherratt, and my glorious chorus. So proud of this. Listen here.
What does it cost to be visible? Chinese and trans people shift in and out of focus in Australia’s historical records – appearing and disappearing, code-switching, oscillating. Through the lens of turn-of-the-century portrait photography, Jinghua Qian looks at the privilege and burden of representation and the luminous power of inscrutability.
I’m headed to Adelaide this weekend to do a couple of panels as part of OzAsia Festival’s literary program, In Other Words.
I’ll be speaking about reporting on China and Chinese Australians with ABC journalist Bang Xiao and moderator Benjamin Law, and then discussing writing and intersectional identities with Sarah Malik and E Flynn, moderated by Jason Om. Both sessions are free entry with no need to book, so just turn up!
I’m really looking forward to catching up with Asian Australian writers and artists from around the country, too – see some theatre, gobble some yum cha, groan about politics, perfect. You can peruse the whole program here.
Reporting on China, Reporting on Chinese Australians
Saturday 5 November 2022
11:30 pm to 12:30 pm
The Star: Kitchen and Bar
Adelaide Festival Centre (map and directions)
Free entry
Writing at the Intersection
Saturday 5 November 2022
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
The Star: Kitchen and Bar
Adelaide Festival Centre (map and directions)
Free entry
I’m speaking at this conference next week hosted by ANU, and I’m really impressed with the program and how accessible it is: registration is free and every session is livestreamed.
Organised by Evelyn Araluen, Julieanne Lamond and Monique Rooney, the program features Melissa Lucashenko, Jackie Huggins, Jeanine Leane, Elizabeth Flynn, Natalie Harkin, and many more. Full program and registration here.
Australian Literature in the Shadow of the Colonial Patriarchy
Monday 24 October & Tuesday 25 October
ANU Canberra and online via Zoom
Free registration
Jinghua Qian 