Bamboo paper-making and embossing workshop with artist Sarah Ong.

Sydney-based artist Sarah Ong will lead this free creative workshop as part of the Eco-Lab 2026 residency @ the NASA Gallery at the Servo.

Sarah Ong is a Chinese-Malaysian, Vietnamese-Khmer Australian emerging artist living on the unceded land of the Bidjigal and Darug people in Sydney’s Southwest. Ong utilises organic materials to reflect on the art world and our way of living.

Learn hands-on how to make paper using natural fibres harvested from the bamboo plant. In the workshop, you will also experiment with embossing techniques that incorporate elements of different bamboo textures and shapes.

What you need to know:

• suitable for 12+ (children must have a ticket and be accompanied by an adult ticket holder)

• please arrive 15 mins before the event starts

• the workshop will take place at The Servo undercover.

Please bring:

• papermaking can be messy and uses lots of water - wear clothes you don’t mind getting damp/messy. Or BYO apron.

• the artist will supply additional materials, tools and tuition.

This workshop is part of Eco-Lab 2026

Eco-Lab is a creative program to share the practices of diverse artists from the Illawarra and beyond, with community, fostering ecological awareness, care for Country and meaningful engagement with place.

Eco-Lab will be in residence at the NASA Gallery, the Servo, Port Kembla from 24 October to 08 November.

REMADE for Eco-Lab is a group exhibition showing for the duration of the residency.

ECO-LAB, the REMADE exhxibition and workshops have been made possible by a Wollongong City Council Small Cultural Arts Grant.