West Space

𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝

𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗶
𝗡𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗮 𝗜𝘆𝗲𝗿
𝗖𝗵𝗶 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻

Join us to celebrate the opening of 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝: 𝟰 → 𝟲𝗽𝗺, 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟵 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁
West Space
Level 1, Perry Street Building, Collingwood Yards

“Sharing language is a deeply personal and embodied act, expressed by an individual and the people, places and contexts that make up a constellation. Language can be passed down, it evolves and is ever evolving. As a system of knowing and expression, language extends beyond the written word to gesture, mark making and sound. It builds values that allow us to individually and collectively navigate life.

I am interested in ways to celebrate and protect the polyphonies of language and the role of the artist as antidote in a period marked by an increasing presence of generative AI systems.”  — 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗿, 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿

Swipe across for more information on the range of public programs that extend the themes of this exhibition.

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𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝
𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

The first 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 for 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 is being hosted by 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗻.

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝟲:𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺 → 𝟳:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺

Cher Tan’s assembly night will be focussed on discussing texts that demonstrate the capacity and importance of expression as well as critical responses to Large Language Models like OpenAI. Bring a favourite poem, essay, or the name of a writer/critic you find interesting. This assembly is a bit show and tell style and a bit let’s gather the words and reference points that help us to attune ourselves to what is to come.

> 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 are communal gatherings around an activity, intended to extend upon the themes of the exhibition.

Free to attend, all are welcome.

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Cher Tan is an essayist, editor and critic. Her critically acclaimed essay collection, Peripathetic: Notes on (Un)belonging, was published by NewSouth in May 2024. She lives and works on unceded Wurundjeri country.

The second 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵

Join us for the opening of 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩, a propositional exhibition featuring new works by 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗶, 𝗖𝗵𝗶 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻 and 𝗡𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗮 𝗜𝘆𝗲𝗿 (pictured L-R), and curated by 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗿.

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟵 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟰 → 𝟲𝗽𝗺

Against the homogenising force of generative AI and the instrumentalisation of language within present political rhetoric, each artist offers their personal expression as a critical counterpoint.

Read on: https://westspace.org.au/program/language-to-reach-with

𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 in the 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 | 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟵 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟰 → 𝟲𝗽𝗺

𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 brings together new works by 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗶, 𝗖𝗵𝗶 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻 and 𝗡𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗮 𝗜𝘆𝗲𝗿.

Against the homogenising force of generative AI and the instrumentalisation of language within present political rhetoric, each artist offers their personal expression as a critical counterpoint.

The title references Whereas (2017) a book of poetry by Oglala Lakota poet Layli Long Soldier. In this book, Long Soldier instates language’s deep participation in life building, an active polyphonic force that is strengthened by our attention to it. In the prologue of Whereas, Long Soldier says “...each People has been given their own language to reach with, I understand reaching as active, a motion.”

Curated by Curated by 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗿.

𝗖𝗵𝗶 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻 is a research-based writer and artist, whose works span essay, installation, sound and the moving image. She is interested in how the unseen and intuited can open dormant paths for truth and relation, with her early work exploring failures of language and expression.

Chi Tran, ‘Unable to rest because unable to know’, 2026 (still). Image courtesy the artist.

𝗡𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗮 𝗜𝘆𝗲𝗿 is an interdisciplinary researcher of South Indian Tamil-descent. Raised in Melbourne, Australia, she currently resides in Goa, India. Working across performance, photography, installation and writing, Nithya seeks to investigate how the body, and the body-in-motion, relates to notions of inheritance and territory.

Nithya Iyer, ‘Lunghi dance’ (detail) as part of ‘Musa genus’, 2026, textile, 85cm x 130cm. Image courtesy the artist.

𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗶 is a proud descendant of the Yorta Yorta Dhulunyagen family clan of Ulupna and the Yorta Yorta, Wurundjeri and Wiradjuri Briggs/McCrae family. An artist of Aboriginal and Italian heritage, her practice critiques and disrupts Eurocentric frameworks that shape institutional understandings of Indigenous identity. Grounded in Indigenous Knowledge sy

Join us for the opening of 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩, a propositional exhibition featuring new works by 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗶, 𝗖𝗵𝗶 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻 and 𝗡𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗮 𝗜𝘆𝗲𝗿 (pictured L-R), curated by 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗿.

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟵 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟰 → 𝟲𝗽𝗺

Against the homogenising force of generative AI and the instrumentalisation of language within present political rhetoric, each artist offers their personal expression as a critical counterpoint. Read on: https://westspace.org.au/program/language-to-reach-with

Out now on Offsite, exhibition curator 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 contextualises the newly commissioned and recent works that comprise 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆).

“Academic and writer Lana Lopesis states that Moana artists now are looking to create “A place to stand in their own creative sovereignty based on their own practice, rather than being swept up into perceived aesthetics and convenient concepts.” Perhaps this is what our ancestors wanted when they started their lives in new countries, for the future generations to remain true to themselves no matter what shape that may take.”

Read: https://westspace.org.au/offsite/work/spilt-milk-and-hard-honey

Presented at West Space until 8 August, 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆) features 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗸𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗮 (Tonga), 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝘁𝘂 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶 (Samoa), 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 (Tonga), 𝗔𝘅𝗲𝗹 𝗜𝘃𝗮 (Samoa), 𝗘𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘂-𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗽ā (Samoa), 𝗝𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗠𝗮’𝗶𝗮’𝗶 (Samoa), and 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂 𝗩𝗮𝗲𝗮 (Tonga).

𝗦𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆-𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 reflects on 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮’s 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 in the West Space Window, bringing moments from artworks presented at West Space since 2023 into a single, immersive passage.

“Khaled says that through this work, he wanted to show his appreciation to the practice of art and of artists, and to the arts workers who make it possible. Amidst all that is happening off the canvas in the third decade of the 21st century, the simplicity of this devotional gesture is quite beautiful, and reminds me of the ability of art to move us, if we are willing to be moved.”

Read the essay on West Space Offsite: https://westspace.org.au/offsite/work/khaled-chamma-fireplace

On Saturday we warmed up the gallery celebrating 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆), guest curated by 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗸𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗮, 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗔𝘅𝗲𝗹 𝗜𝘃𝗮, 𝗘𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘂-𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗽ā, 𝗝𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗠𝗮’𝗶𝗮’𝗶 and 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂 𝗩𝗮𝗲𝗮 joined us in Naarm (Melbourne) to speak about their works at the opening celebrations, with 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝘁𝘂 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶 with us in spirit from her residency in Canada.

🫶 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 🫶 to all the artists for your exceptional artworks and artist talks, 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 for bringing this celebratory project to life at West Space, and to the 76 individuals who supported the artists to travel from across Aotearoa and Australia to be here.

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆) is showing at West Space until 8 August. Read on: https://westspace.org.au/program/spilt-milk-and-hard-honey

Photography. byJanelle

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆) invites seven artists of Pasifika heritage whose practices have been cultivated in the so-called “lands of milk and honey” — a phrase used to describe Aotearoa and Australia as lands of abundance for the Pasifika people who had migrated from their homelands. The reality however, differed greatly from the empty promises that were offered.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗸𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗮 (Tonga), 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝘁𝘂 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶 (Samoa), 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 (Tonga), 𝗔𝘅𝗲𝗹 𝗜𝘃𝗮 (Samoa), 𝗘𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘂-𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗽ā (Samoa), 𝗝𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗠𝗮’𝗶𝗮’𝗶 (Samoa), and 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗵𝗮’𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗶 𝗩𝗮𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘂 (Tonga) take this phrase as a challenge, asserting the futurity of Pasifika culture and connection across the diaspora. Guest curated by 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 (Cook Islands, Samoa, Pakeha).

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟯 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲, 𝟯 → 𝟲𝗽𝗺 🎙️🥂

At 3pm, 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 leads a walk-through of the exhibition with the visiting artists, introducing their newly commissioned and recent works.

https://westspace.org.au/program/spilt-milk-and-hard-honey

It's National Volunteer Week. Time for a 🥁 West Space Volunteer roll call 🥁

West Space is incredibly grateful to our talented, generous, and amazing volunteers, who support our programs and operations. Each volunteer is also an artist, see their work in 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗥 & 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 until May 30.

𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗭𝗵𝗼𝘂: Buy a raffle ticket be in the running for OG artwork by Joy (spot their signature) for two prizes. We are excited for Joy’s participation in Cementa curated by Sebastian Henry-Jones 🫰🏽

𝗞𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗵: A steady, bright presence across programs and deinstall. Currently on residency in Paris 💛

𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗼 𝗢𝗺𝗮𝗿: Received a West Space mentorship for her VCA honours work, Naimo also put her hand up to volunteer with us. In her spare time she is curating and exhibiting across Melbourne. What is rest? 🫡

𝗡𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗷𝗼𝘂: Is your person for deep convos on the social and health impact of art encounters. Niosha is a MADA x WS mentorship awardee. She is undertaking a psychology degree and really is the next generation we all need 🧿

𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗻: Also a MADA x WS mentorship alum, turned very active volunteer. Mellyn is a self-starter, and big thinker and has contributed a deeply personal work to 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗥 & 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 🫶

𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀: Steadfast caretaker of 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹 presented by Tina Stefanou. Ingrid is currently in Mparntwe, working with an Aboriginal Art Centre under a beautiful big sky 🌅

We love our volunteers 🫶

https://westspace.org.au/program/labour-and-love

Thank you for participating in 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗥 & 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 💘

The auction may be over, but there are myriad ways to engage before 𝟯𝟬 𝗠𝗮𝘆:

1. Visit the exhibition at West Space 💘

2. Purchase artwork (https://app.galabid.com/westspace/items?item_type=purchase) 💘

3. Get involved in the raffle (https://app.galabid.com/westspace/items/f06247f3-090c-4913-b02d-c52ae52527ba) 💘

4. Make a tax deductible donation (https://app.galabid.com/westspace/items/b0191666-c0a8-41a0-92aa-6b2749492e78) 💘

𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 (𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆!) 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.