un Projects presents ‘Collection (spell)’ co-curated by un Magazine guest editors Nadia Refaei and Olivia Koh (recess) ahead of their incoming issues 18.3 Sabaar and Other Counter Archives and 18.4 good grief.

An evening of short film screenings presented concurrently at both the Richmond Theatrette, Naarm/Melbourne, and Soho Arts, nipaluna/Hobart on Friday 18 October from 6pm.

What do we make with what remains? This series of artist films, ‘Collection (spell)’ counter traditional notions of loss and of the archive. A selection of moving image works from various artists, including some incoming un Magazine contributors, investigate the political, economic and cultural dimensions of how loss is apprehended and history is named.

This program is an invitation to reimagine and reshape given attributes to individual and collective loss (as something irrecoverable, permanent and fixed). Against hegemonic accounts of history, these artist films all differentially ask: who decides what is lost, what is collected and constitutes history, memory and story? ‘Collection (spell)’ demonstrates a myriad of ways that people remember their own histories, language, grief and culture to create resistant, present, living and alternative archival forms. The screening asks us to gather and consider how we can be active participants in the shaping of our own stories and refute dominant narratives; through acts of sharing and forming connections.

Film List:

Noor Al-Asswad, PS/QA, Under the Lemon Tree (2020)

Takani Clark, (TAS) AU, Elder of Shells (2019)

Rosalind Nashashibi, PS/UK, Electrical Gaza (2015)

Jacqui Shelton, IE/(VIC) AU, Bím Caillte ( 2023)

More works tbc

Image: Jacqui Shelton, Bím Caillte (mistranslated: I am usually, habitually, lost), 2023, digital video still.

All ticket proceeds will be donated to Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA).

Supported by the City of Yarra, Creative Victoria and Creative Australia

Soho Arts has limited accessible access. Please contact producer@unprojects.org.au for any access questions or requirements.

un Magazine and its editors would like to acknowledge that these screenings are held on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land and Muwinina land, and that sovereignty of these lands was never ceded. We offer our sincere respects to the Elders of the Kulin Nations, past and present, and the Palawa/Pakana Elders of lutruwita, Tasmania. We extend these respects to the Elders of World Indigenous communities. Sovereignty of these lands was never ceded.