Exhibition

ALAM عَلَم 

<p><b>ALAM عَلَم&nbsp;</b><b><span> </span></b></p>

When

23 August 2024 -
06 October 2024

Location

4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art

181-187 Hay St, Haymarket

In collaboration with Arts House (Melbourne), 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art is co-commissioning an immersive exhibition by Hazara artist, Elyas Alavi. 

Alavi's ALAM عَلَم unfolds through a rich tapestry of symbols, phrases, poetry, faces, body language and community codes, serving as profound reflections on queer Muslim diasporic communities. 

Each alam in this exhibition resonate with references to significant events, highlighting historical and contemporary figures who bravely advocated for their sexual identity and those who tragically lost their lives due to their sexuality.

Curators

Vishal Kumaraswamy

Artists

Elyas Alavi
Elyas Alavi: ALAM عَلَم exhibition view, 2024
دلبری Stealing Heart, 2024, neon light with acrylic mount, diptych, 115 x 31 x 5.4cm. Courtesy the artist. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and Arts House, Melbourne. Supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body and Create NSW.
Elyas Alavi: ALAM عَلَم exhibition view, 2024
We, of Secrets Kept Unsaid, 2024, gold leaf, iron, steel, prints on velvet, 260 x 260 x 70cm. Courtesy the artist. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and Arts House, Melbourne. Supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body and Create NSW.
We, of Secrets Kept Unsaid, 2024, gold leaf, iron, steel, prints on velvet, 260 x 260 x 70cm. Courtesy the artist. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and Arts House, Melbourne. Supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body and Create NSW.
حلال HALAL, 2016–ongoing, collage, ink, pencil, transparency paper, found photographs on paper, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
حلال HALAL, 2016–ongoing, collage, ink, pencil, transparency paper, found photographs on paper, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
We, of Secrets Kept Hidden, 2023–24, gold leaf, iron, steel, prints on velvet, 650 x 280 x 84cm. Courtesy the artist. Commissioned by Arts House, Melbourne. Supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.
We, of Secrets Kept Hidden, 2023–24, gold leaf, iron, steel, prints on velvet, 650 x 280 x 84cm. Courtesy the artist. Commissioned by Arts House, Melbourne. Supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.
We, of Secrets Kept Hidden, 2023–24, gold leaf, iron, steel, prints on velvet, 650 x 280 x 84cm. Courtesy the artist. Commissioned by Arts House, Melbourne. Supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.
Elyas Alavi: ALAM عَلَم exhibition view, 2024
ماتَم Matam, 2023–24, three-channel video, colour, with sound, 10m. Courtesy the artist. Videographers: Abdollah Jafari Alavi, Jawad Khalili, Omid Taqdisiyan, and Elyas Alavi Commissioned by Arts House, Melbourne. Supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.
Elyas Alavi: ALAM عَلَم exhibition view, 2024
دیگرگونه Another Kind, 2013–ongoing, pen and ink on paper, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
دیگرگونه Another Kind, 2013–ongoing, pen and ink on paper, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
دیگرگونه Another Kind, 2013–ongoing, pen and ink on paper, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
دیگرگونه Another Kind, 2013–ongoing, pen and ink on paper, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
دیگرگونه Another Kind, 2013–ongoing, pen and ink on paper, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
دیگرگونه Another Kind, 2013–ongoing, pen and ink on paper, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
دیگرگونه Another Kind, 2013–ongoing, pen and ink on paper, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist.
Elyas Alavi portrait, 2024
  

Events

<h2><span class="event-name"><em>ALAM عَلَم </em>CATALOGUE LAUNCH</span></h2>

ALAM عَلَم CATALOGUE LAUNCH

Book Launch

Saturday, 24 August 2024, 1:00am

More info

Top image: We, of Secrets Kept Hidden, installation view at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, 2024, photo by Kai Wasikowski.

Bottom image: دلبری Stealing Heart & حلال HALAL, installation view at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, 2024, photo by Kai Wasikowski. 

 All documentation by Kai Wasikowski for 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.

 

ALAM  عَلَم  has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body and Create NSW, and is a co-commission between Arts House and 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.