language to reach with brings together, through sound, material and gesture, new works by Moorina Bonini, Chi Tran and Nithya Iyer at West Space Gallery, Collingwood Yards.
Against the homogenising force of generative AI and the instrumentalisation of language within present political rhetoric, each artist offers their personal expression as a critical counterpoint.
The title of the exhibition references Whereas (2017), a book of poetry by Oglala Lakota poet Layli Long Soldier. In this book, Long Soldier articulates language’s deep participation in life building, regardless of the manner it has been wielded to facilitate genocides, ongoing colonisations and ultimately disconnected beings. In the prologue of Whereas, Long Soldier says "...each People has been given their own language to reach with, I understand reaching as active, a motion."
language to reach with is curated by Tahmina Maskinyar and runs from August 22 through to October 24, 2026 at West Space, Collingwood Yards.
Opening celebration, August 29, 4pm–6pm
Assembly night #1 September 2, 6pm–7:30pm
Assembly night #2 September 9, 6pm–7:30pm
Assembly night #3 September 16, 6pm–7:30pm
language to reach with artist symposium, October 22, 2:30pm – 7:30pm
Banner image is Chi Tran, untitled (film still), 2026.
