Talks

Lee Kun -Yong , The Method of Drawing 76 -  2, first performed in 1976, (re  -performed in 2018); photo: Document Photography

Explore our 4A Talks library of panel talks, in-conversations, reading, lectures, transcripts, and more. This growing archive spotlights artists, writers, curators, cultural workers, arts leaders, and researchers, as well as other visionaries featured in the wider 4A program. Keen to access more talks? Visit our archives website.

4A TALKS: Emil Cañita

Exhibiting artist Emil Cañita discusses their new work Poz Cocksucking Tranny Exposed (2025) with Con Gerakaris, Curatorial Program Manager, 4A.

4A TALKS: Emil Cañita is a public program for Antivenom: Year of the Snake, part of 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Arts' Lunar New Year 2025 artistic program.

Recorded 25 January 2025

4A TALKS: Lia Tabrah in conversation with Lisa Lake

Exhibiting artist Lia Tabrah discusses environmental sustainability and the creative possibilities of cane toad leather with Lisa Lake, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion + Textiles, UTS.

4A TALKS: Lia Tabrah in conversation with Lisa Lake is a public program for ANTIVENOM: VERMIN, part of 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Arts' Lunar New Year 2025 artistic program.

Recorded 25 January 2025

4A Talks with Christian Thompson

Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Bidjara artist Dr Christian Thompson AO, creates a new body of work continuing an exploration into his Southern Chinese heritage. Presenting significant works from his career alongside a new commission, Thompson refines the practice initiated in New Gold Mountain (2019). Gain a deeper understanding of his artistic process and the stories behind his captivating artworks, offering a unique glimpse into the world of contemporary art.
Produced by journalist and podcaster Silvi Vann-Wall.

Recorded 05 February 2024

4A Talks with Sophia Cai

For this episode of 4A Talks, we speak with Sophia Cai, the curator of our ongoing exhibition, A Soft Touch, which brings together ten contemporary Australian artists and explores empowerment and dissent through the art of textile.

"There's nothing wrong in being a soft person," she says as she shares why she chose the name, what defines 'a soft touch' and why she doesn't really stop thinking about her curations - even if the exhibition closes.

Tune in!

Recorded 23 July 2023

In Conversation: Evi O and Con Gerakaris

Artist and designer Evi O talks with Con Gerakaris (4A, Curatorial Program Manager) about her recent commissioned public artwork A Pair of Marbled Cone Snails Races to Chinatown for the Special Braised Eggplant. They discuss design as art, food tourism, the ongoing gentrification of Sydney's Chinatown and public art.

Recorded 04 February 2023

Artist Floor Talk: Rel Pham

Artist Rel Pham discusses his new commissioned exhibition Cache with curator Con Gerakaris (4A, Curatorial Program Manager). Rel discusses the range of influences which informed his new work including PC operations, Big Data, memory, the I-Ching and more.

Recorded 15 January 2023

Origin (Marle) Artist Talk

Sydney-based new media collective Origin discuss their newly commissioned artwork Origin (Marle). Created for 4A Digital 2022, Origin (Marle) is a collaborative project from Jordan East, Jane Fan, Callum Howard, Pat Younis and Alvin Ruiyuan Zhong and a continuation of their digitally-focused practice as Origin. Origin discuss with project curator Con Gerakaris (4A, Curatorial Program Manager) their influences and process in creating this interlinked artwork. Covering creative code, video and sound, Origin explore emerging AI technology including ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, Dall-E and ImageNet as tools used in the artistic process.

Experience Origin (Marle) on 4A Digital here

Recorded Sunday 8 January 2023.
Produced by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
This project is supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Recorded 08 January 2023

Please Explain: Kababayan

To mark the closing weekend of ‘For us sinners’, 4A hosted an in-conversation between artist Marikit Santiago and Professor Anna Cristina Pertierra (Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building at University of Technology Sydney) on Saturday 14 May, 2pm. Anna and Marikit discussed the representation of Filipina-Australians in daily social, political and cultural life, and how family, motherhood and religion have influenced their personal identities and professional careers.

Recorded 14 May 2022

4A Digital In Review

As 4A Digital logs off for another year, join artists Marcus Whale and Jane Fan for a panel discussion with co-curators Marco Rinaldi (Curatorial Assistant, supported by the Sally Breen Family Foundation) and Con Gerakaris (4A, Curatorial Program Manager). 
This panel discussion reflected upon the ten newly-commissioned artworks created for 4A Digital 2021 and discussed the methodologies of creating work for digital engagement, curating online spaces and expand upon themes of online communities and new approaches to media.

Recorded 18 November 2021

4A Papers Issue 10: Letter from the Editor

Mariam Arcilla reads her Letter from the Editor to introduce 4A Papers: Issue 10. Featuring contributions from Matt Chun, Green Papaya Art Projects, Leora Joy Jones, Annette An-Jen Liu, and Hugh Hudson / Taipei National University of the Arts 國立台北藝術大學. Access Issue 10 here,

Recorded 04 October 2021

Top image: Lee Kun -Yong , The Method of Drawing 76 - 2, first performed in 1976, (re -performed in 2018); photo: Document Photography