Join us for a private Sparks in the Dark exhibition viewing for veterans and their families.

Sparks in the Dark combines Afghan women’s embroidered artworks with new works by Afghan migrant Mursal Azizi and Australian army veteran of 20 years, Kat Rae.

Embodying resilience, creativity and humanity in the face of adversity, this art installation will powerfully represent resistance and hope for a better future after the war.

Afghan women artists will display 208 embroidered works, representing the 208 weeks since Kabul fell to the taliban. Now, under the taliban regime, Afghan women are systematically oppressed and silenced.

Significantly, this event is held on the 16th, the day after the anniversary of the fall of Kabul on 15 August 2021. The 16th is also the anniversary of veteran Andrew Christie, Kat Rae’s late husband’s suicide in 2017. Australian veterans, many of whom worked tirelessly to help create a more peaceful and equitable Afghanistan, grieve for what is lost.

Kat, Mursal and the teams at Next Wave and the Australian National Veterans Art Museum invite veterans and their families to join this informal private gathering. MC, veteran and poet Steve Cotterill will support a gentle, inclusive and collaborative creative environment where we may gather, remember, reflect, collaborate and create together. We hope you can join us.

Afghan sweets and saffron tea provided. Kids are warmly welcome.

Please take care: Open Arms available to chat 24/7 on 1800 011 046.

Next Wave

270 Sydney Road, Bullek-bek (Brunswick)

Exhibition also open 17–24 August, 11am–4pm

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)

Sparks in the Dark is presented by Mursal Azizi and Kat Rae in collaboration with Next Wave.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, as well as through the Wayward Women Giving Fund, Australian National Veterans Art Museum and the Australian War Memorial.