Most of the attendees had never visited an art gallery.
Everyone remembers their first time.
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The stark walls turned vibrant, the close-up look of brush-stroked textures, the details down to the frames — all of it unforgettable when setting foot inside a gallery for the very first time.
On Saturday, August 23, that experience was shared by 40 Mandarin-speaking community members, who joined Shepparton Art Museum’s inaugural Mandarin-language guided tour of Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio.
The tour was led by Stella Sun, a young Chinese arts practitioner currently living in Shepparton on a working holiday visa.
Speaking entirely in Mandarin, Ms Sun combined art history with personal stories, offering an intimate and accessible lens into Whiteley’s iconic works.
Event tour guide Stella Sun with SAM head of engagement Gabriella Calandro.
“It was an experience I never imagined — introducing Australian art in my mother tongue,” she said.
“Seeing people listening intently and connecting with the works moved me deeply.”
Parents who attended spoke of the significance of their children hearing the art explained in their home language.
One participant described the tour as “a wonderful cultural introduction” for young people who might otherwise feel distanced from Australian art.
For SAM, the event marked more than a gallery visit.
It was a step towards inclusivity — embracing the region’s cultural diversity and strengthening the museum’s role as a leader in regional arts engagement.
Speaking entirely in Mandarin, Stella Sun guides attendees through the works of Brett Whiteley.
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