Words I Wish I Had

VENUE: 107 Redfern

Exhibition Hours: 11am - 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday

Welcome to "Words I Wish I Had," an interactive installation by Aslam Abdus-samad.

Step into a world where unexpressed emotions find a voice. In this collaborative experience, we invite you to leave behind a feeling, experience, or sensation that defies a single word. Draw inspiration from this collective reservoir to create new words, giving form to those elusive sensations. These words and definitions are collected and added to our evolving 'Dictionary of Words I Wish I Had'.

But it doesn't end there. Definitions that find their word will be transformed into poignant short stories. Witness these stories come to life, unearthing the power of movement in storytelling, through beautifully filmed dance pieces in our video anthology, 'Body of Words'.

As you participate in this unique artistic endeavor, you'll notice that all the paper used is embedded with Forget Me Not seeds, symbolizing the growth and remembrance of unexpressed emotions. As we embrace the power and limitations of language, we also acknowledge the words that may be forgotten along the way. These Forgotten Words will be lovingly planted in our 'Garden of Forgotten Words', representing the enduring beauty of unspoken emotions.

Words I Wish I Had invites you to explore the untapped potential of language, to share your experiences, and to witness the alchemy of words turning into stories and dance. Join us at 107 Redfern St, Redfern, for an unforgettable and free experience that will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the unspoken words within us all.

This project has been made possible through funding from the City of Sydney.

Aslam Abdus-samad is a versatile artist, bringing his talents to the realms of acting, performance creation, and writing. With a strong academic foundation, including a BA in Applied Theatre from Griffith (2007) and a P. Grad Dip in Performance Creation from VCA (Theatre Animateuring, 2011), Aslam has honed his craft in various parts of the world.

His expertise in physical theatre has taken him on a journey across Australia and internationally. Noteworthy experiences include an immersive 6-month internship with Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre, participation in the Physical Theatre Program at Stella Adler Studio in NYC, and a transformative training residency with IUGTE in Italy.

Additionally, Aslam has expanded his artistic horizons through actor training at NIDA, teaching film and English in South Korea, managing the schools program with the Australian Theatre of the Deaf, instructing drama in Singapore, and pursuing comedy improvisation training in Spain. Continually embracing new opportunities, Aslam's performances have captivated audiences both in Australia and around the world.

Reuse and repair specialist and designer, Eav Brennan (she/her) is a textile and comic artist, and design researcher. Beginning as a self-taught artist with training in environmental science, her practice centres around interrogating materials and exploring ecological connections. Her work has been shown globally to communicate climate science, as well as the small and joyful stories that link people and places. She has developed a storytelling approach which aims to create beautiful and lively work with the discarded beings of the world.