AL DADAK

Blacktown Arts

Role: Curator

Date: January to June 2025

Location: The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre

In my role as Curator, I worked with the incredible Ebony Wightman to bring her artistic vision to life. Informed by her lived experience as an Autistic person, Ebony’s playful Makers Space explored feelings of living a double life and trying to make sense of a world not designed for you. The space was transformed into a spy’s hideout, inviting intergenerational audiences to question everything and rely on their powers of observation.

On Level 5, “Why? And Who?” were both the questions and the answers.

Creative Team

Lead Artist: Ebony Wightman

Supported by: We Are Studios and Hilin Kazemi

Curator: Anne-Louise Dadak

Coordinator Programming: Talia Smith 

Project Support Officer: Adele Walsh

Installers: Taryn Leahy, Mary-Anne Cornford and Aisyah Sumito

Project documentation by Garry Trinh.

This project was presented by Blacktown Arts and supported by Blacktown City Council and the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Blacktown Arts

Role: Curator

Date: July to September 2025

Location: The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre

A Real Experience championed the stories of women from Blacktown and western Sydney; connecting memory, identity and place. Vivienne Binns OAM’s iconic project Mothers’ Memories, Others’ Memories anchors this exhibition, a landmark collaborative community artwork created in Blacktown between 1979 and 1981. Recognised as a significant example of community-engaged art in Australia, this project centred the creative agency of women through the exploration of oral histories and family photo archives.

Complementing this central work were selections from the Garage Graphix archive. Renowned for its activist roots and commitment to social practice in Mt Druitt during the 1980s and 1990s, Garage Graphix leaves an unrivalled legacy of community arts practice and leadership.

Threaded through the exhibition are senior-career artists from the Blacktown City Art Collection, whose works connects through thematic, materiality and practice. The works in A Real Experience invite us to dwell in the space in between the personal and the political, the individual and the collective, visual and narrative, and honour what is remembered and what is still unfolding.

Bringing Mothers’ Memories, Others’ Memories into the present day, Blacktown Arts partnered with the Older Women’s Network. Led by artist, writer and lawyer Amani Haydar, these contemporary narratives emerged through workshops and gatherings, culminating in a new body of work presented in Gallery 2 that unfolded over time.

Exhibition documentation: silversalt Photography

Family Day documentation: Tammy Dang

This project was presented by Blacktown Arts and supported by Blacktown City Council and the NSW Government through Create NSW.

BEYOND THE ELEMENTS

Blacktown Arts

Role: Exhibition Curator

Date: October to December 20245

Location: The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre

Located on Dharug Land for the past 10 years, the 4Elements HipHop Festival (4ESydney) is proudly for and led by the community. 4ESydney champions HipHop culture and its core elements (MC’ing, DJ’ing, breakdancing and graffiti) to empower and engage young people, artists, and diverse communities.

Through the intersection of music, graffiti, memorabilia and pivotal moments, Beyond The Elements invited viewers to reflect on this rich history and the key figures that have played a part in growing HipHop in Western Sydney and beyond.

A dynamic series of public programs presented in partnership with Powerhouse Parramatta accompanied the exhibition.

Consultants: DJ D, Mathew "Mistery" Peet, MC Trey, Lee Monro, Maxine Johns, DOBBY and Kev Hannibal.
Curators: Vyvienne Abla, Talia Smith and Anne-Louise Dadak
Producers: Krystel Diola, Clarissa Mei
Project Support: Adele Walsh
Technical Supervisor: Shannon O’Riley

Material from the Western Sydney Hip Hop Archive presented in partnership with Powerhouse Parramatta.

Project documentation by Garry Trinh.

This project was presented by Blacktown Arts and supported by Blacktown City Council and the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Blacktown Arts

Role: Curator

Date: January to March 2025

Location: The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre

For nearly 30 years, the Blacktown City Art Prize has showcased the creativity of the region and provided emerging and established visual artists the opportunity to exhibit their work. The acquisitive art prize is open to artists across Australia, with a prize pool of over $23,500, a democratic and accessible platform for local and national artists.

In my role as curator I worked alongside assistant curator Adele Walsh to help produce and deliver the project, working with internal stakeholders, sponsors and guest judges to bring the legacy project to life. The exhibition was co-curated by Adele and myself, installed by Taryn Leahy, Mary-Anne Cornford and Aisyah Sumito.

Exhibition documentation by Silversalt Photography.

Opening night image by Garry Trinh.

This project was presented by Blacktown Arts and supported by Blacktown City Council and the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Date: 2024

Location: Fairfield Museum and Gallery

Zwischen II, commissioned by Amy Prcevich (Curator, Language Exchange).

Language Exchange foregrounds the experience of being connected to non-English languages while living in predominantly English-speaking Australia. The exhibition engages artists from several cultural backgrounds to create a dialogue between the layered feelings of joy, sorrow, community, recognition and revival that stems from the loss and acquisition of heritage languages.

Artists: Marian Abboud with Think+DO Tank / Rainbow Chan / Anne-Louise Dadak / Kuba Dorabialski / Deanna Hitti / Jannawi Dance Clan / L-FRESH The Lion / Jazz Money / Audrey Newton / James Nguyen / Rachel Schenberg

Zwischen II

This project examines the overlap of familial languages both conceptually and literally, through physical layering of hand drawn texts; a process of both learning and remembering. The shapes and spaces that emerge between the overlap of English, German and Czech form a new visual language that illuminates what exists in the in-between. These quiet spaces become tangible, taking shape and solidifying outlines, questioning what is carried forward and what is left behind. 

Continuing the exploration from Zwischen (part 1, 2022), deadstock Czech glass beads (from the now defunct former Czechoslovakian company Železnobrodské Sklo) are reworked to create new shapes and in-between spaces. Representing an entangled history, a political and linguistic overlap between Czech and German culture, the reoccurring use of these beads gently interrogates the evolving nature of cultural heritage through examining artisanal practice and the politics of labour.  

Image Credit: Document Photography

Exhibition

Date: 2022

Location: Airspace Projects

In these works, the past and future merge through mark making and layered responses; an exploratory practice of visualising liminal space through paint and collage studies. The landscape acts as protagonist, attempting to capture ephemeral moments and experiences; aligning memory, place and heritage.

Accompanying the works are beaded sample cards from the now defunct former Czechoslovakian company Železnobrodské Sklo. These delicate objects carry a complex narrative of Czech cultural heritage; a tangible symbol of the transition between artisanship and independence, through to political unrest, oppression and loss. The beads form their own landscapes and reference the artist's heritage; representing a co-mingled history through a political and linguistic overlap between Czech and German culture.

Image credit: Anna Hay

Client: Powerhouse

Role: Program Curator and Producer

Date: 2023

Location: Parramatta Female Factory

Concept by Keinton Butler, Creative Director Sydney Design Week 2023. This intensive workshop was led by fashion designers and digital creatives exploring the innovation and beauty of contemporary modest fashion in Western Sydney. Participants collaborated with industry leaders and emerging talent to explore contemporary design, cultural identity and sustainability.

Workshop leaders included digital creator and fashion influencer Nawal Sari, designer Anjilla Seddeqi, Powerhouse curator Glynis Jones, head of school at the TAFE NSW Fashion Design Studio (FDS) Laura Washington, founder of Fabrics of Multicultural Australia Sonia Gandhi, co-founder of Twiice Boutique Nigara Momin and photographer Zahrah Habibullah.

Image Credits: Tugba Demir

Client: Powerhouse Museum

Role: Producer

Date: 2020-21

Location: Online

Hybrid Digital was the direct outcome of Covid-19 Restrictions, transforming Sydney Design Week and the launch of Hybrid exhibition into a digital program that championed the work of 30 designers both locally and internationally.

This project was successfully delivered with a very limited budget, tight timeframe and small core team. Led by Stephen Todd (Sydney Design Week Creative Director) and designed and produced collaboratively with Marcus Piper (Digital Art Director), Georgie Veneziani (Digital Producer and editor), Guy Keulemans and Felix Burrichter (external design curators).

Images credits: Stills from Hybrid Digital, courtesy of Charlotte McCurdy, Formafantasma and Katie Stout.

Client: Powerhouse Museum

Role: Program Curator and Creative Producer

Date: Summer 2019-2020

Location: City of Sydney

In partnership with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the SIP Summer Program culminated with a Step into Paradise Mardi Gras float. Designed by Hugh O’Connor in collaboration with Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, the float was a celebration of Linda and Jenny’s passionate environmental advocacy, simultaneously paying homage to their formative relationships with Mardi Gras founding artists David McDiarmid and Peter Tully. Featuring Jenny and Linda’s archival artwork brought to life through set construction from MNR Constructions and community generated posters printed larger than life by Big Image.

The project brought together friends and family of Jenny and Linda, artists, activists and Museum staff; celebration of diversity, community and creative practice. The parade was viewed by 500 000 people, both in person and through the inaugural live SBS broadcast.

Client: Powerhouse Museum

Role: Program Curator and Creative Producer

Date: Summer 2019-2020

Location: Ultimo

Part of the Step into Paradise: Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson public program, this project brought to life the environmental and human rights advocacy championed within Kee and Jackson’s iconic careers.

From December to February guests were invited to create their own designs and contribute to the communal intergenerational making of Jenny and Linda’s Mardi Gras parade entry. During a traumatic summer of extreme bushfires, What Matters gave audiences the opportunity to express their views on complex environmental and human rights issues through inclusive creative practice.

The What Matters program space was designed in collaboration with Powerhouse designers Jemima Woo and Trudi Fletcher.

Client: A PYT Fairfield project

Role: Designer in collaboration with Laura Pike

Date: 2016-2018

Commissioned by PYT Fairfield, Province were the design team for Tribunal. The role encompassed, set, costume, prop and graphic design.

Tribunal was created to interrogate and explore notions of truth and lies around the labels of ‘refugee’ and ‘asylum seeker’. Conceived by Karen Therese the project was a collaboration between artists, lawyers, activists and community.

Tour History

2018 – Sydney Festival Carriageworks
2018 – Sydney Opera House
2017 – PYT Fairfield
2017 – Arts House Melbourne
2016 – Griffin Theatre

Concept & Lead Artist Karen Therese
Concept & Human Rights Lawyer Joe Tan
Creative Collaborators/ Text/Performers Rhonda Grovenor Dixon, Mahdi Mohammadi, Karen Therese, Paul Dwyer, Katie Green, Jawad Yaqoubi plus guest speakers
Text Editor Paul DwyerOutside Eye Chris Ryan
Design Province Studio (Laura Pike and Anne-Louise Dadak)
Video Design Sean Bacon
Sound Design James Brown
Lighting Design Emma Lockhart-Wilson
Stage Manager Patrick Howard

Images: Aunty Rhonda Dixon Grovenor, Jawad Yaqoubi, Mahdi Mohammadi, Katie Green. Photographs: Alex Wisser

Client: Powerhouse Museum in collaboration with Information + Cultural Exchange

Role: Producer

Date: 2018

An ICE project, led by creative producer Leo Tanoi.

A pop-up barbershop was installed in the Powerhouse Museum as part of a collaboration with the incredible ICE (Information + Cultural Exchange.

This special event was designed to celebrate ten weeks of young people from Granville Boys High School having worked with specialist facilitators Charles Lomu and Chris Hamer-Smith to learn the skills of barbering and music production.

Client: Powerhouse Museum

Role: Festival manager and program curator

Date: 2018-2019

The 2019 festival theme Accessing Design was created in response to the Powerhouse Museum’s interests in increasing participation and design dialogue for a broad and diverse audience. The festival took place from March 1-10 with over 102 project partners and 138 events Sydney-wide.

About the theme:

ACCESSING DESIGN seeks to promote responsive design that gives voice to diverse Sydney communities, and asks designers to broaden the definition of design and expand the dialogue between creative practice, access and inclusivity. ACCESSING DESIGN looks at various concerns including geography, race, gender, and socioeconomic issues. The Festival continues its commitment to Sydney-wide growth, looking beyond the central and established design districts, bringing visibility to new and emerging design areas across greater Sydney.

With an emphasis on the democratisation of design, the Sydney Design Festival is seeking a broad representation and involvement from both established and emerging design practitioners and interdisciplinary creative practices. ACCESSING DESIGN asks the design community to question and contemplate their creative practice.

Client: A collaboration between Province, Tangentyere Arts and Watch This Space gallery

Role: Designer and project producer in collaboration with Laura Pike

Date: 2015

Location: Mparntwe (Alice Springs)

Throughout August 2015, Province ran workshops with artists from Ewyenper Atwatye (Hidden Valley) Town Camp to design the motifs for a large scale mural on the side of the local IGA supermarket. The 16m long mural was painted collaboratively over a week; created as a celebration of Arrernte language and culture, focusing on traditional bush tucker of Mparntwe.

Client: City of Sydney Council

Role: Artist and Designer

Date: 2015

A Province studio project, commissioned by the City of Sydney for the Dawes Point New Years eve celebration. 

Invited by creative agency Imagination to develop the art direction for the 2015 NYE celebrations at Dawes Point.

Responding to the theme Menagerie with ideas of flora and fauna, creating playful abstract shapes to celebrate the diversity of Sydney life and culture.

Client: Powerhouse Museum

Role: Program Producer

Date: 2018

Using the exhibition Reigning Men as a vehicle to discuss and celebrate diverse narratives and ideas of masculinity from across Sydney. Exploring the intersection of fashion, textiles, culture and identity.  

Client: A Province studio project commissioned by Blacktown Arts Centre.

Role: Artist and designer in collaboration with Laura Pike.

Date: 2017

Location: Mt Druitt

A large-scale footpath mural created in collaboration with the Bidwill community. Designed through a series of structured workshops with children from the neighbourhood, the mural tells the story and movement of the community through abstract patterns.

Client: Sydney Festival and Karen Therese

Role: Artist and designer in collaboration with Laura Pike.

Date: 2013-14

Location: Mt Druitt

Directed by Karen Therese, Funpark was a community art project and performance installation in Western Sydney. Over the 2013-14 summer period, Province worked with various community groups to design and transform the site in Bidwill Square, Mt Druitt.

Client: Powerhouse Museum

Role: Creative Producer

Date: 2017

The brief was to create an intergenerational offer to accompany the touring international exhibition Sherlock. The project utilised the Museum’s rich collection to create a playful and engaging response to the notion of reveal and conceal.

The project came to fruition through a collaborative design process with Lucy McGinley and Malcolm McKernan, and was constructed and installed by the masterful team at WildSets.

Client: Various

Role: Artist and Designer

Date: 2011-2017

Location: Sydney-wide

Created with Laura Pike as part of Province Studio projects. Working with colour, pattern, shape and movement, we were commissioned by a broad range of clients including Sydney Festival, Marrickville Council and UNSWAD. Collaborations include Camille Walala and MaserArt.

Client: City of Sydney

Role: Co-founding Director

Date: 2010-2012

Location: Angel Place, Sydney

The Paper Mill was an Artist Run Initiative based at Angel Place Sydney CBD, established in September 2010 with the assistance of the City of Sydney Council.

Engaging primarily with the representation and facilitation of art works that engage with paper in its broadest sense, The Paper Mill aimed to develop relationships between artists, audiences, critics, writers as well as other ARIs throughout Australia.

The Paper Mill was a home for contemporary emerging and experimental visual arts practice in an otherwise culturally bare Sydney CBD; providing affordable studios and exhibition spaces along side a diverse range of public programming and workshops.

TPM was entirely not-for-profit, run by a group of volunteers who dedicated their time and skills to the operation of the space and the promotion of creative arts within Sydney.

Before closing its doors in December 2011, The Paper Mill facilitated over 20 exhibitions, participated in Art & About, Art Month and was nominated for an FBi radio SMAC award for the 'Remix the City' 2011 category

Client: Opera Australia

Role: Scenic Artist

Date: 2011-2014

Part of a team of scenic artists working across multiple productions including Un Ballo in Maschera, Tosca, South Pacific, Figaro, The Magic Flute and La Traviata.

Client: A Province studio project

Role: Artist and designer in collaboration with Laura Pike.

Date: 2013

Location: Darlinghurst

Taking over Under New Management for a week, Province created over 160 uniquely painted plywood boards and tiled the space.

Take Shape was designed as an interactive exhibition,  allowing the audience to rearrange, purchase and replace the artworks, witnessing show slowly dismantle over time. From concept to final sale, the underlying logic of the exhibition remained: each individual piece is as important as the overall installation.

Client: An Omnium Research Group project, Directed by Rick Bennet.

Role: Designer and project producer

Date: 2008

Location: Manila

A social design project, designed as a collaboration between Omnium Research Group (UNSW) and De La Salle-College of Sainte-Benilde, Manila. The project was developed to provide a sustainable source of income to local artisans, providing consistent employment for local Filipino artisans over a 1 year period. Over 15 embroiderers and 5 woodworkers created 2,500 framed embroidery panels, culminating in a 5m by 11m high art installation.

The artwork was installed in the foyer of the De La Salle-College of Sainte-Benilde, Manila in 2008, one of the major art and design colleges in the Philippines.

Porosity Studio, Edinburgh 2008.

British Council Scholarship program, funding an international multidisciplinary creative studio, led by Richard Goodwin.

A collaboration with Scottish artists Amelia Smith and Morag Macdonald. This work is explored notions of transience, memory, and connections between cities: specifically non-physical connections and the fleeting moment.