Celebrate the launch of Sik by Axel Garay and Nightfall by Liwen Lian for Next Wave’s Winter Windows program.

Cosy up with us as we light up Brunswick Mechanics Institute in the heart of winter.

Next Wave's Winter Window's program transforms the building's windows into portals exploring the artists' interpretation of Possible Worlds: Imagined Futures.

Hear from Liwen and Axel and be one of the first to experience the works at this post-solstice gathering, relishing in the longest nights of the year.

Sik by Axel Garay, 2025
Sik is a two channel video portrait series grappling with a future land filled with our trashy remains. How do our descendants weave our garbage into the folklore of the future?

Nightfall by Liwen Lian, 2025
Drawing from Islamic mysticism, Christian allegory, and Chinese cosmology, Nightfall questions the boundaries of reality in an age where digital illusions blur truth.

We invite you to warm up with some mulled wine, meet the artists and gallery teams and take part in Around the Block: a special night tour connecting all four programs.and the surrounding Winter Screening programs at Blak Dot Gallery, Counihan Gallery and Michelle Guglielmo Park (260 Sydney Road).

About the artists

Liwen Lian is a Hui-Chinese 回族 visual artist, designer, and community arts labourer. They hold a Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) from RMIT University. Their practice explores how visual and material culture—objects, technologies, and environments—shape, distort, and reimagine identities and notions of humanness.

Axel Garay (Meriam/Puerto Rican/Malaysian) is an emerging queer First Nations interdisciplinary artist and storyteller working with the still and moving image. He utilises digital video, installation and alternative photographic processes to explore themes of technology ethics, desire, spirituality and human psychology.

Next Wave
270 Sydney Road, Bullek-bek (Brunswick)

Accessibility
Brunswick Mechanics Institute is a step-free venue with accessible bathrooms.

Video tour of Brunswick Mechanics Institute

Download the Brunswick Mechanics Institute visual story (.docx)
Download the Brunswick Mechanics Institute visual story (.pdf)

Download the Brunswick Mechanics Institute transport and parking information (.docx)
Download the Brunswick Mechanics Institute transport and parking information (.pdf)