At The First Flood of Daylight sees Ara Dolatian examine the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh, written in c. 2100–1200 BC. The timeless narrative centres on the legendary king of Uruk, who was deified after death. The story originates from what is now Iraq, often referred to as Mesopotamia or “the ancient Near East”. This region is a cradle of interwoven cultural systems.
These ceramics respond to the queer and feminist interpretations of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Epic remains strikingly contemporary. It resonates with themes of grief, loss, and the emotional connections between men. The works shown here create unfamiliar archetypes and homoerotic narratives. They bring to light both factual and fictional histories, through a queer lens.
Growing up in Baghdad and now living in Melbourne, Dolatian reflects on mythology and identity. At The First Flood of Daylight blurs the lines between simplicity and complexity. It asserts sexual difference and gender multiplicity as a pathway to finding deeper human connections.
Image: Ara Dolatian, Humbaba 2024. Glazed ceramics. Courtesy the artist and James Makin Gallery
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