‘An Offering, A Burning, A Prayer’: Ceremony And Contemporary Art Ignite At 4A

A roaring fusion of tradition and contemporary art, ‘An Offering, A Burning, A Prayer’ brings Australian and Asian artists together in an igniting reimagination of ritual across mediums.

Curated by Con Gerakaris, the exhibition explores fire as both symbol and agent of transformation—the elemental heart of celebration and communal practice.

Gerakaris describes 4A Contemporary Centre for Asian Art’s latest show as “an abstracted interpretation of rituals, ceremonies and celebrations that take place during Lunar New Year.”

‘An Offering, A Burning, A Prayer’ combines new and existing works from six Asian Australian and Asian artists across generations, all linked by “maintaining cultural connection while living in the diaspora.”

The title nods to burning joss paper and incense—a New Year ceremony of renewal and rebirth—while the artworks explore meditation, devotion and the many ways these practices shape personal and collective experience.

Fire’s resonance spreads across cultures.  Many traditions, like Cultural Burning, reveal fire’s enduring power to heal, transform, and mark renewal, whether in communal rites, family gatherings or caring for Country.

The exhibition brings these threads together, weaving faith, tradition and modern expression.

Anchoring the exhibition, this Year of the Horse, Gerakaris says, is a turning point: “a chance to reset, move boldly, and embrace fresh beginnings.” Here, fire embodies energy, intensity, and possibility.

Each artist channels ideas of observance into the present in a tangible, playful and profound way.

Sydney-based Jason Phu arranges lion dance costumes into a simmering parade, translating movement into gallery space.

Emma Pham suspends a digital tapestry in the stairwell, blending retro pixel art with Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship (Đạo Mẫu).

Performance artist WeiZen Ho repurposes renovation materials for devotional weekend performances that spill into the street.

Meanwhile, Savanhdary Vongpoothorn reinterprets the Buddhist Fire Sutra as a sweeping, large-scale print, fusing Western minimalism with Eastern philosophy.

Ceramicist Casey Chen paints childhood memories and diasporic imagery onto historically inspired porcelain vessels, bridging heritage and personal history.

Singapore-born, Berlin-based Choy Ka Fai presents speculative shaman costumes alongside a documentary exploring Vietnamese Leng Dong practice in Germany.

“Each artist approaches cultural rituals differently, whether through material, subject, or concept,” Gerakis notes. “Visitors encounter these practices as living experiences rather than static displays, which opens new ways to think about devotion and ceremony today.”

Launched during Lunar New Year, the exhibition’s energy surged. A DJ at the opening “brought a party atmosphere,” Gerakis recalls, “and it felt like everyone was shedding their snake skin and galloping full force into this year of the Fire Horse.”

Beyond spectacle, the exhibition invites reflection on cultural continuity and personal renewal.

From nostalgia and introspection to devotion and celebration, the works draw audiences into a convergence of ritual, memory, and imagination.

Gerakaris hopes visitors leave “with a sense of calming direction in how they will live this new year,” while experiencing how contemporary art preserves and interprets culture.

Forged in the heat of Asian and Australian culture and expression, the exhibition doesn’t just display tradition—it activates it.

‘An Offering, A Burning, A Prayer,’ invites visitors to step inside the fire, witness ritual anew, and leave with a sense of ceremony reborn and creativity aflame.

‘An Offering, A Burning, A Prayer‘ is on till 29 March at 4a Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.