BOTH Chinese restaurants and the Chinese Year of the Sheep are being celebrated at the Bunker Cartoon Gallery in Coffs Harbour.

Starting tonight at 6pm, the colour and character that Chinese restaurant shopfronts bring to the nation's high streets are in the spotlight in an exhibition of photographs taken by Graeme Lindsay during a 12,000km journey around Australia.

'A Particular Geography: Australian Chinese' uses images selected from over 750 restaurants Lindsay found in Australian towns, cities and communities across the country.

"Chinese restaurants add diversity amongst shop fronts along the main street.  Some Chinese restaurants are new while others have been a feature of a small country town for decades," he said.

Coffs Harbour photographer Bruce Thomas adds a local touch to the show with his shots of the Coffs Coast's popular Chinese restaurants.

To add to the atmosphere - and to help celebrate the Chinese New Year - the Gallery will be decorated in traditional red and gold lanterns, New Year banners and paper cut decorations which celebrate the Year of the Sheep (or Goat as the two are equally regarded).

The Gallery has also been through its own collections and chosen a selection of sheep-based cartoons to help usher in the Chinese New Year.

'A Particular Geography: Australian Chinese' runs from January 30 to March 7.

The Bunker Cartoon Gallery is located at John Champion Way and is open 10am-4pm, Monday to Saturday. Entry costs $2 adults and $1 for children over five years.

Source : The Gold Coast Advocate   30th January 2015