Bollywouldn’t is a balm to the displacement of diaspora. This major commission echoes TextaQueen’s enduring practice of connecting with the community using texta as a mechanism to bring people together.

Through portraiture, photography, mural painting and projection, Bollywouldn’t presents decolonial narratives and the reclamation of power and space by South Asian diaspora. TextaQueen’s portraits of queer South Asian community have been digitally mapped onto buildings in and around London, creating the illusion that they exist as actual murals on a monumental scale against colonial structures.

Bollywouldn’t deconstructs all the "-isms" in the Bollywood genre, giving agency back to South Asians, particularly those marginalised within our cultures through sexuality and gender identities. 

TextaQueen: Bollywouldn’t is the inaugural recipient of the Copyright Agency Partnerships commission, an annual series to support major commissions for mid-career and established visual artists in partnership with leading cultural organisations around Australia.

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Public Program

Bollywouldn’t Opening: To accept and receive fruits and water
Saturday 22 October | 3pm - 6pm
Free | Held in-person at 4A
This event has ceased

A movement - based workshop with BINDI BOSSES
Sunday 23 October | 1pm - 2pm
Free | Held in-person at 4A 
This event has ceased

Making Nei Urundai with Radha La Bia
Sunday 23 October 2022 | 3pm - 4pm
Free | Held in-person at 4A
This event has ceased

Meet Me At 4A: Ishtyle
Thursday 17 November 2022 | 6pm - 8pm
Free | Held in-person at 4A
Register here

TextaQueen In-conversation and TextaQueen: Bollywouldn't Book Launch
Wednesday 7 December 2022 | 6pm - 8pm
Free | Held in-person at 4A and Livestreamed
Presented by 4A and VAULT magazine
Register here

Meet Me At 4A: Impossible Desires
Thursday 8 December 2022 | 6pm - 8pm
Free | Held in-person at 4A and Livestreamed
Presented by 4A and VAULT magazine
Register here

Listen to Bollywouldn't Radio
Serenade your ears with mixes by DJs and community-builders across the queer South Asian diaspora. 
Playlist by: Rashna, Kiefeiiry, Kinergy, and Merph

Bollywouldn't Exhibition + Public Program collaborators:

Shareeka Helaluddin - Community Engagement Officer
G.B Krishnan -Publication Editor 
Tahmina Maskinyar - Photoshop Artist

Special thanks to portrait subjects Aisha, Aaks, Raju, Nazmia, Heena, Humaira, Nila, Zee, Bam Bam, Rukeya, Raisa, Sabah and Shama; writers G.B. Krishnan, Yalini Dream, Kareem Khubchandani, YSK Prerana, Nazmia Jamal, Heena Patel, Humaira Saeed, Nandani Bharrat, Christopher Kirubi, Devi Peacock, Madhuraa Prakash, Sabah Choudrey and Shama Khanna; artist assistants Tirelle, Charlotte, Tutulu, Celine, Sammy, Vidya and Dinithi; mural assistants Zev Tropp, Julia Gutman, Celine Cheung, Audrey Newton, Isabelle Bianca Virrey, Monisha Kumar, Nolan Murphy, Con Gerakaris, Reina Takeuchi, Tarika Sabherwal; public program artists and producers Party Office, Dylan Goh, Merph, Rashna, Naz, Kinergy, Vishnu Arunasalam, Shoeb Ahmed, Priyanka Bromhead, Shahmen Suku, BINDI BOSSES, Shyamla Eswaran, Rakish, badgalcovphephe, Papaphilia, Mārā Māyā Dēvi, INDEX, Hana Shimada and Priya Panchalingan; communications team Mariam Arcilla, Faye Chen; photographers and image stock suppliers Henry Woide/Mass Collective, Getty Images and Shutterstock; printers Pixel Perfect Prolab; and the Museum of Chinese in Australia.

Visitor and access information:

A library has been created for the duration of Bollywouldn’t and is available for any visitors who require a calm and reflective environment or a place for sensory recharge. Please approach 4A staff to access this space.

Please note, our accessible bathroom is currently out of order. Visitors are able to use the accessible bathrooms on the ground floor or 477 Pitt Street (building on the corner of Parker and Hay Streets). Please approach 4A staff if you would like directions. Contact hello@4a.com.au for more visitor info. View Accessibility Information here