Opening Night: Ancestor Spirits & In the Half Light

Join us for an evening of reflection, remembrance, and revelation as we unveil Andy Ewing: Ancestor Spirits — a major posthumous survey celebrating the life and art of Andrew (Andy) Hau Ewing (1964–2021), pioneering Vietnamese-Australian queer artist and curator whose work reshaped conversations around identity, body politics, and cultural hybridity.

In dialogue with Ewing’s legacy, Kirthana Selvaraj: In the Half Light emerges as the debut commission from the inaugural Andy Ewing Fellowship — a project that invites new voices to engage with Ewing’s practice. Selvaraj, a queer-identifying artist of Asian heritage, brings a generational lens to themes of diaspora, visibility, and intimacy — painting with light, shadow, and time in a slow, meditative process.

Together, these exhibitions invite visitors to step into Ewing’s world — one that confronted stereotypes, affirmed queerness, and honoured the body as both archive and sanctuary. From early illustrations for the Sydney Star Observer to his moving late-career works like Chronic Manageable Conditions, Ewing’s legacy resonates deeply with today’s conversations about health, resilience, and belonging.

The Andy Ewing Fellowship, established by the Estate of Andrew Ewing and 4A, continues his mission by supporting emerging artists in creating bold new works that expand the horizons of queer Asian-Australian art. Selvaraj’s immersive installation, developed through research at the Australian Queer Archives, bridges past and present — inviting us to see Ewing’s questions anew.

This opening night is more than an exhibition preview — it’s a gathering of community, memory, and creative possibility. Whether you’re long-time admirers of Ewing’s work or discovering his voice for the first time, you’re welcome here.

RSVP via the link below and celebrate a legacy that continues to inspire — and to challenge.