Exhibition

Antivenom:
Year of the Snake 

<p>Antivenom: <br />Year of the Snake&nbsp;</p>

When

24 January 2025 -
02 March 2025

Location

4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art

181-187 Hay St, Haymarket

Exhibition opening day celebrations
Friday 24 January, 6–8pm
Free | Register here.

As part of 4A’s Lunar New Year celebrations, Antivenom draws on the characteristics of the Snake – wisdom, intuition and persuasion – leading to transformation.

Antivenom features diverse and underrepresented Asian-Australian, Australian and Indigenous artists and collectives who reflect on personal experiences of discrimination, stigma and hate speech. Drawing on the scientific process of making antivenin, each artist transforms the harmful through creative intent to embody notions of self-affirmation through identity, sexuality, gender and the migrant experience – contributing to personal and collective healing.

Throughout the exhibition, events and performances activate the space, celebrating diversity and the power of wisdom and creativity to help us shed our skins and begin the year anew.

Public Program

Antivenom: Artist Talks
Saturday 25 January | 2pm–4pm
Free | Held in-person at 4A
This event has passed

4A LIVE x Worship: Antivenom Unveiled
Friday 28 February | 6pm–9pm
Free | Held in-person at 4A
This event has passed

Owen Leong, OPEN WIDE, GOOD PIG, 2024, cotton, bleach, silk, steel, bronze finger hooks, 156 x 112 x 7cm; Owen Leong, EDGE DEEPER, 2024, cotton, bleach, silk, steel, bronze finger hooks, 156 x 112 x 7cm. Courtesy the artist.
Owen Leong, Bud, 2023, bronze finger hooks, rope, stainless steel, spreader bar, leather cuffs, hand cut denim, glazed porcelain, 135 x 70 x 7cm. Courtesy the artist.
Owen Leong, Pleasure Point, 2023, resin finger hook, spray paint, acrylic pearls, brass chain, pom poms, silicone beads, 27 x 8 x 13cm; Owen Leong, Sweet Spot, 2023, resin finger hook, spray paint, silicone beads, 33 x 5 x 5cm. Courtesy the artist.
Owen Leong, Harder Faster, 2023, resin finger hook, spray paint, acrylic pearls, tassel, surgical stainless steel ring, 37 x 8 x 6cm. Courtesy the artist.
M. Sunflower, Burra Bulada (Eel Snake), 2024/25, acetate and solvent-based paint, dimensions variable. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Courtesy the artist.
M. Sunflower, Ouroboros, 2024/25, acrylic, clay, pigment, styrofoam, tulle and varnish, 65 x 65cm. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
Antivenom: Year of the Snake exhibition view, 2025, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
Kirtika Kain, Blue Bloods IV, 2023, turmeric, lotus seeds, tulsi beads, Rosewood beads, bronze pigment, acrylic paint, wax, 120 x 120cm; Kirtika Kain, Blue Bloods V, 2023, tar, copper leaf, acrylic paint, cotton, sindoor, wax, artist pigment, copper pigment, 120 x 120cm. Courtesy the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
Kirtika Kain, larva, 2022, cotton, tar, gold leaf on recycled silkscreen, 37 x 37cm; Kirtika Kain, The Solar Line IX, 2020, tar, gold leaf, rice paper, silicon carbide, beeswax, disused silk screen, 35 x 35cm. Courtesy the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
Kirtika Kain, Blue Bloods XVII, 2023, cotton wicks, rangoli pigment, tar, gold leaf, acrylic paint, 214 x 152cm. Courtesy the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
Mai Nguyễn-Long, Vomit Girl: Vigit (Worana 2), 2017–2022, heavily grogged terracotta clay fired to 1120, 9 x 16 x 12cm; Mai Nguyễn-Long, Vigit Hefeco 4 (with Worana hat and pocket mini), 2023, heavily grogged large particle clay fired to 1220, 75 x 32 x 22cm; Mai Nguyễn-Long, Vomit Girl: Vigit (Worana), 2017–2022, terracotta clay with fine grog fired to 1120, 7.5 x 17 x 2cm; Mai Nguyễn-Long, Vomit Girl: Vigit (Worana 3), 2017–2022, glazed large particle earthenware fired to 1100, 17.5 x 12.5 x 16.5cm. Courtesy the artist and Michael Reid, Sydney + Berlin
Mai Nguyễn-Long, Vomit Girl: Vigit (Worana 2), 2017–2022, heavily grogged terracotta clay fired to 1120, 9 x 16 x 12cm. Courtesy the artist and Michael Reid, Sydney + Berlin
Mai Nguyễn-Long, Vomit Girl: Vigit (Worana 3), 2017–2022, glazed large particle earthenware fired to 1100, 17.5 x 12.5 x 16.5cm. Courtesy the artist and Michael Reid, Sydney + Berlin
Mai Nguyễn-Long, Vigit Hefeco 4 (with Worana hat and pocket mini), 2023, heavily grogged large particle clay fired to 1220, 75 x 32 x 22cm. Courtesy the artist and Michael Reid, Sydney + Berlin
Gallery Image 14
M. Sunflower, Medusa Slaying Persus, After Artemisia, 2025, graphite, India ink, makeup, pigment and watercolour on distressed watercolour paper, 297 x 420mm. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
M. Sunflower, Wow Thanks, I’m Cured! Alter Altar, 2025, mixed media installation, dimensions variable; M. Sunflower, Djawarra Yarra (Weapon of Defense Sword), 2025 Acrylic, cardboard, clay, pigment, tin foil, wire and varnish, 90 x 38cm. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
M. Sunflower, Wow Thanks, I’m Cured! Alter Altar (detail), 2025, mixed media installation, dimensions variable. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
Emil Cañita, Poz Cocksucking Tranny Exposed, 2024, HIV+ Blood, bonded cotton, quilting, thread, water based ink, rope., 83 x 175cm. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Courtesy the artist.
Emil Cañita, Poz Cocksucking Tranny Exposed, 2024, HIV+ Blood, bonded cotton, quilting, thread, water based ink, rope., 83 x 175cm. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Courtesy the artist.
  

Top image: Owen Leong, WORSHIP PLEASURE, 2024, cotton, bleach, silk, steel, bronze finger hooks; Photo: Owen Leong. Courtesy of the artist.

 Exhibition documentation: Jessica Maurer for 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art