Ancestor Spirits and In the Half Light

4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art presents a moving dual exhibition that honors cultural memory, queer identity, and artistic legacy. Andy Ewing: Ancestor Spirits marks the first posthumous survey of the pioneering queer Vietnamese-Australian artist Andrew (Andy) Hau Ewing (1964–2021), whose bold, intimate works challenged stereotypes and celebrated hybridity, illness, and desire. Alongside it, Kirthana Selvaraj: In the Half Light introduces a new body of work from the inaugural recipient of the Andy Ewing Fellowship, responding to Ewing’s themes through her own lens of diaspora and embodied memory.

Together, these exhibitions create a powerful dialogue across generations. Ewing’s expressive ink-on-paper works, rich with surreal figures and personal narratives, offer a window into his life as an outsider navigating race, queerness, and chronic illness. Selvaraj’s tender, luminous paintings trace how those explorations continue to resonate today — connecting heritage, healing, and the body in gentle but unwavering strokes.

The venue itself—a warm, thoughtfully curated space nestled in the heart of Haymarket—becomes part of the experience. Each gallery floor invites quiet contemplation, whether you’re lingering over Ewing’s archival sketches or stepping into Selvaraj’s dreamy, half-lit canvases. It’s an exhibition that doesn’t shout—but whispers, with profound grace.

Don’t miss the opening celebration Friday 9 October, 6pm–8pm. Refreshments, light chat, and the gentle hum of community. All ages welcome, entry is free, and everyone is invited to pause, reflect, and connect.

And if you’re curious to learn more, the Andy Ewing Fellowship, co-established by Ewing’s estate and 4A, continues to nurture emerging queer-identifying artists of Asian heritage—a legacy that’s still evolving, still blooming.

For more info: +61 423 738 283 | 4A Website | @4a_aus