Presented in partnership with Midsumma Festival
AUSLAN interpreted
When: Sat 25 January 2025, 2- 3pm
Cost: Free! All welcome, bookings recommended
Join artist Ara Dolatian in conversation with curator, Sarah Werkmeister to hear more about the new ceramic exhibition, At The First Flood of Daylight.
The exhibition explores the queer and feminist interpretations of the ancient text, the Epic of Gilgamesh. This timeless narrative centres on the legendary king of Uruk, who was later posthumously deified. Originating from what is now Iraq, often referred to as Mesopotamia or “the ancient Near East,” this region is a cradle of interwoven cultural systems, most notably those of the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. This new exhibition connects this research to Ara’s previous works that address the looting of Mesopotamian artifacts from the National Museum of Iraq in 2003.
The Epic of Gilgamesh remains strikingly contemporary, resonating with themes of grief, loss, and deep emotional bonds between men, ultimately revealing a philosophical exploration of peace within one’s community. The story is divided into two parts: the first recounts Gilgamesh’s profound friendship with the wild man Enkidu, their shared battles against the Cedar Forest monster Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, and the tragic turning point of Enkidu’s death. The second part follows Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality, spurred by his desire to avoid Enkidu’s fate. Although his search ends in disappointment, Gilgamesh returns home with a newfound wisdom and a deeper understanding of humanity.
Ara’s sculptural work brings to light these buried histories, intertwining them with queer and feminist theories to create unfamiliar archetypes and homoerotic narratives within a vivid yet uneasy world. His pieces possess a distinctive anthropomorphic quality, some echoing masculine human faces and chopped cedar tree trunks, while others are more ornamental and abstract, drawing inspiration from historical Mesopotamian artifacts. The main works are stacked as totemic, vertical columns, playing with ideas of gender multiplicity and the protective nature of Mesopotamian guardians.
Reflecting on mythology, identity, and the struggle of being an outsider, Ara’s work is deeply influenced by his upbringing in Baghdad. The sculptures, characterised by their imperfect, sublime, and emotionally charged nature, blurring the lines between simplicity and complexity, asserting sexual difference and gender multiplicity as pathways to finding deeper human connections beyond materialistic pursuits.
Visit At The First Flood of Daylight showing at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre until Sat 22 Feb 2025.
Opening hours: Wed- Fri: 11am–4pm
Saturday: 10am–5pm
For more information click here
