For June-August 2024 The Mill presents Halo-halo, a new exhibition by Alyssa Powell-Ascura developed through the Delima Residency in Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia, and at The Mill.
Halo-halo has been developed as part of The Mill’s Visual Arts Studio Residency program presented in cooperation with the Mahmood Martin Foundation.
This Virtual Gallery includes exhibition photography and social photography from the opening night and will include the live stream of Alyssa’s artist talk.
Photo: Daniel Marks
Some of the works showcased in “Halo-Halo” draw inspiration from living indigenous practices, for example, the act of kamayan seen in the video work Kain Tayo, employ the method of eating food with your hands, where communal feasting becomes a metaphor for shared experiences and collective consideration.
Central to my artistic vision is the conscious incorporation of repurposed or found items. Everyday items common in Filipino households, such as the ubiquitous kumot or blanket, serve as anchors, becoming symbols of resilience and adaptation; ultimately interrogating the assignment of value of these otherwise ordinary items when shown in a gallery setting.
During the Malaysian part of my Delima Residency, I engaged directly with community members, witnessed rural rituals, and embarked on a personal journey. This immersive experience deepened my connection to my Filipino lineage, shaping the spiritual dimension of my artistic practice.
Halo-halo is more than an exhibition — it is a celebration of the fifth largest migrant community in Australia whose ties to Indigenous Australia transcend pre-colonial times. It is an extension of myself, my unapologetic love letter to my Filipino ancestry and Australian upbringing.
Halo-halo (loose translation mix-mix or mixed) is the name of a popular Filipino shaved ice dessert made by layering a concoction of various ingredients. Each layer of different traditional toppings can be eaten one by one, or usually mixed, eventually combining into a sweetened dessert.
As an emerging multi-hyphenate artist, my first major solo exhibition at The Mill shows my investigation of cultures and the intersections I find myself in as an Asian Australian; a halo-halo of identities, the overarching theme of the exhibition.
Through the lens of food, family and culture, the audience is welcomed to a seat at the table, weaving together threads of tradition, memory, and contemporary discourse into a rich tapestry of multi-sensory experiences. Much like halo-halo, the exhibition showcases diverse works that are experimental in nature that you can consume on its own — and then all together, creating a mouthful of complementing ideas.
Photo: Morgan Sette
Photo: Daniel Marks
Install photos: Daniel Marks
Alyssa Powell-Ascura is the recipient of the Delima Residency, presented in co-operation with the Mahmood Martin Foundation.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.