Celebrate Lunar New Year with 4A 🧧🏮🎉

A MESSAGE FROM OUR
4A ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / CEO

Strong, determined, active—these characteristics of the Metal Ox have resonated with me during my first week at 4A. It has been a whirlwind of activity. We may be out of Hay Street temporarily, but 4A is everywhere! The hard working team have delivered a dynamic Lunar New Year program, including James Jirat Patradoon’s ULTRA, Truc Truong's hai con lân việt kiều (Two overseas Vietnamese unicorns) and Secret Snacks.

It is a privilege to assume leadership of this organisation and I look forward to sharing my vision to build on 4A’s legacy with you. We cannot do what we do without our dedicated supporters. Thank you.

Wishing you good health and productivity in the year ahead.

Amrit Gill

Artistic Director/CEO
4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art

HOP ALONG TO TRUC TRUONG'S EXHIBITION

4A is excited to present hai con lân việt kiều (Two overseas Vietnamese unicorns), the first solo exhibition by Vietnamese-Australian emerging artist Truc Truong, on view at 4A's offsite gallery at William St Darlinghurst.

For hai con lân việt kiều, the artist showcases a bespoke refashioning of traditional lion dance ensembles. By reinventing the costume, Truong delves into the tradition of lion dancing and how the cultural ritual has come to reflect the diasporic nature of multicultural Australian identities.

Accompanying the exhibition as part of a newly commissioned contemporary lion dance performance, the love ethic will be held and documented in Haymarket to herald Lunar New Year. Breaking with tradition, these performances showcase costumes by Truong, embodied and activated by dance performers. Donning a bespoke refashioning of the traditional lion dance costumes hand-made by the artist, the dancers will perform a celebratory act that seeks to rid the world of the misfortune of 2020 and welcome a year of prosperity and happiness.

hai con lân việt kiều is commissioned by 4A and curated by Reina Takeuchi and Con Gerakaris.

Truc Truong: hai con lân việt kiều
(Two overseas Vietnamese unicorns)
4 February - 6 March 2021
4A @ William Street
113-115 William Street,
Darlinghurst, Sydney

Opening hours:
Thursday to Saturday
11am-4pm

VISIT THE EXHIBITION

EAT YOUR WAY THROUGH HAYMARKET WITH 4A

Feeling hungry? 4A invites you to venture into Sydney's Haymarket to discover and revisit must-try meals as part of Secret Snacks, a self-guided street and online campaign that champions Asian-Australians in the art and food sector.

4A has invited Benjamin Law, Kylie Kwong, Luisa Brimble, and James Jirat Patradoon to nominate their top Haymarket dishes and tell us what makes them special. From comfort slurps to big cravings, Secret Snacks helps connect Asian-led restaurants and Asian-Australian artists with the public through tales that inspire memories, curiosity, and togetherness.

Read our Secret Snacks write-up in Gourmet Traveller, featuring interviews with Kylie Kwong and Luisa Brimble about food culture and memories of Sydney's historic Chinatown precinct.

Catch Secret Snacks decals at Boon Cafe, Chat Thai, Nakano Darling and Gumshara, as well as artwork posters across Greater Sydney and Western Sydney until 12 March. Spot one? Tag us on Instagram via @4A_aus!

Secret Snacks is commissioned by 4A and produced by Mariam Arcilla.
All artworks designed by More of Something Good.

Secret Snacks: Benjamin Law, Kylie Kwong,
Luisa Brimble, James Jirat Patradoon
Various locations in Haymarket
8 February - 12 March 2021

GET SNACKIN'

AMP UP YOUR ILLUSTRATION SKILLS WITH
JAMES JIRAT PATRADOON

Thai-Australian artist James Jirat Patradoon will be presenting a FREE one-hour digital illustration demonstration on Saturday 27 February as part of his solo show ULTRA, on now at 4A's offsite gallery at World Square. Curated by Con Gerakaris, ULTRA reinterprets traditional and contemporary Chinese Zodiac iconography into an immersive installation experience.

4A encourages budding illustrators, artists and graphic designers, and those with a keen interest in Patradoon's practice to come along to this demo event. Learn how to turn your ideas and drawings into digital illustrations and get insights into Patradoon's skills across drawing, collage, and photography, and mural works.

This demo will take place at 4A @ World Square upstairs, where Patradoon is currently in studio residence. Places are limited, bookings essential.

Digital illustration demo with James Jirat Patradoon
Saturday 27 February, 2.00pm – 3.00pm

James Jirat Patradoon: ULTRA exhibition
29 January - 28 February 2021
4A @ World Square,
Corner Goulburn and
George Streets, Sydney

Opening hours:
Tues, Wed, Fri: 11am-5pm
Thurs: 11am-8pm
Sat, Sun: 11am-4pm

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING 4A

We'd like to thank all our visitors for following the COVIDSafe guidelines at 4A events and exhibitions.

Walk-ins are always welcome at 4A, but pre-booking is encouraged to James Jirat Patradoon: ULTRA and Truc Truong: thai con lân việt kiều (Two overseas Vietnamese unicorns) to ensure the safety of all visitors and 4A staff. As Secret Snacks is a self-guided itinerary, we suggest you adhere to the COVIDSafe plans put in place by each restaurant premise.

All visits will be held in accordance with current NSW Health advice and our COVIDSafe plan, with limited capacity for events, and masks encouraged to be worn wherever possible.

COVID SAFE AT 4A

ENGAGE WITH 4A OFFSITE AND ONLINE

A friendly reminder to our Sydney visitors and friends: 4A programs are currently held offsite and online while the City of Sydney undertakes remedial works to improve our Haymarket gallery until mid 2021.

This temporary renovation ensures that 4A will continue to play a leading role in understanding and developing the dynamic relationship between Australia and the wider Asian region through contemporary art—for many years to come.

The 4A team is working on special projects and events at various locations, as well as online via the 4A Digital artist commissions, 4A Kids activities, and the 4A Papers.

Engage with us via Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with 4A programs.

Acknowledgements and image credits:
1. Amrit Gill in front of James Jirat Patradoon: ULTRA (installation view), 4A @ World Square; courtesy Amrit Gill.
2. Truc Truong, hai con lân việt kiều, (installation view) 2021; Photo: Kai Wasikowski for 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
3. Secret Snacks artwork posters in Newtown (installation view), 2021; Photo: Kai Wasikowski for 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Secret Snacks is part of the City of Sydney’s Sydney Lunar Festival, and is supported by the City of Sydney.
4. James Jirat Patradoon: ULTRA (yin yang), 2021; digital artwork. James Jirat Patradoon: ULTRA is part of the City of Sydney’s Sydney Lunar Festival and is presented at World Square Sydney.
4. James Jirat Patradoon: ULTRA (exterior view at 4A @ World Square), 2021; Photo: Kai Wasikowski for 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. James Jirat Patradoon: ULTRA is part of the City of Sydney’s Sydney Lunar Festival and is presented at World Square Sydney.

All images. courtesy the artists.

4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
Note: 4A is currently delivering programs offsite and online.
Please visit our social media channels for updates.

4A @ World Square
Corner Goulburn and George Streets, Sydney

4A @ William Street
113-115 William Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney

PO Box K1312 Haymarket
Sydney NSW 1240
Australia

hello@4a.com.au

4A acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which our Sydney gallery is situated, and gives respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art is an initiative of the Asian Australian Artists Association Inc. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Commonwealth Government through the Visual Art & Craft Strategy and the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body; the NSW Government through Create NSW and the City of Sydney; and all of our donors and patrons.

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