Fairfield City Museum & Gallery’s (FCMG) 2024 program Minority/Majority challenged cultural stereotypes of western Sydney as a place of ethnic minorities and disadvantage. Instead, it showcased the region’s creative diversity, highlighting its multiple realities through works by artists and creatives that reflect its complex, evolving identity.
Semantics: an evening of language and art
Language Exchange explored the experience of living in Australia while connected to non-English languages. It featured artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, addressing the emotional complexities of losing and reclaiming heritage languages. The main public program, Semantics (27/4/2024), included panel talks between curators and artists, followed by performances from Jannawi Dance Clan, L-FRESH-The-LION, and gemma ylana. The event invited audiences to reflect on the relationship between language and art, encouraging deeper contemplation of the meanings behind words.
Image: Jimmy Ky
Image: Jimmy Ky
Image: Jimmy Ky
Knowing Beyond Knowing: Conversations with Khaled Sabsabi
Knowing Beyond is an installation by renowned artist Khaled Sabsabi, expanding his exploration of spirituality in daily life. The work combined multiple mediums, inviting audiences into a realm of mysticism, numerology, science, symbolism, and wisdom. The event, Knowing Beyond Knowing, featured conversations with Sabsabi, led by Carmel Aiello, Eddie Abd, and Gillian Kayrooz, discussing his practice and role as both an artist and mentor in the contemporary Australian art scene. The evening also included a reading by poet Omar Sakr and a musical performance by Tarik Hussien of Hira Music School.
Image: Joanna Gallo
Image: Joanna Gallo
Image: Joanna Gallo
Immaterial
Immaterial was a night-time program celebrating the often overlooked and underrepresented work of digital artists. Over four nights, each event highlighted different aspects of digital arts including music, sound, digital technology, and screen media.
Starting in July 2024, Beat Kitchen Records curated the first event filled with experiential music, accompanied by a pop-up thrift store, and screen printing activities. The second event, Sound Play (31/8/2024) led by Claudia Chidiac, featured sound, movement, and activities for children and their families. The third event, Electronika (28/9/2024), transformed Wetherill Park Library into a techno playground with VR, robotics, and 3D designs. Cinémathèque (26/10/2024), the final event, hosted by Sivani Yaddanapudi, showcased locally made short films, photography workshops, and networking for lens based creatives.
Immaterial challenged the perception that digital arts and technology don’t belong in the arts world, but as a practice that is constantly expanding and shaping the landscape of creative industries.
Museum & Gallery Director: Carmel Aiello
Museum & Gallery Curator: Alinde Bierhuizen
Program Producer: San May
Museum & Gallery Curator: Alinde Bierhuizen
Program Producer: San May
Language Exchange
Curator: Amy Prcevich
Photo Documentation: Jimmy Ky
Curator: Amy Prcevich
Photo Documentation: Jimmy Ky
Knowing Beyond
Artist: Khaled Sabsabi
Photo Documentation: Joanna Gallo
Artist: Khaled Sabsabi
Photo Documentation: Joanna Gallo
Immaterial
Creative Producer: San May
Guest Producers: Beat Kitchen Records, Claudia Chidiac, Fairfield City Open Libraries, and Sivani Yaddanapudi
Video Documentation: Jimmy Ky
Designer: Katy Cao
Creative Producer: San May
Guest Producers: Beat Kitchen Records, Claudia Chidiac, Fairfield City Open Libraries, and Sivani Yaddanapudi
Video Documentation: Jimmy Ky
Designer: Katy Cao
Minority/Majority was supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
Immaterial received additional support through Create NSW’s Audience Development Fund, administered by Museums & Galleries of NSW.
Immaterial received additional support through Create NSW’s Audience Development Fund, administered by Museums & Galleries of NSW.
