Exhibition: Weeds Crack Concrete

22.06.25 – 17.08.25

With Abdul Abdullah, Cole Cochran, Julian Hamman, Sim Kaur, Gillian Kayrooz, Nelson Nghe, Thao Nhi La, Riff Raff and Joan Ross
Curated by Levent Can Kaya, Emma Cao and Jeyne Wade

“Plants become weeds when they are out of place in agricultural settings, but they also become weeds in other non-natural settings when they disrupt an inherent order. For example, weeds are those plants that get in the way of the programs, agendas, or desires that we project into spatial constructs. Ivy quickly becomes an invasive species when it disrupts the functions of windows or walls.”

— David Giseen, Subnature: Architecture’s Other Environments, p. 150

Stubbornly, weeds crack concrete; they endure from the bottom up, warping the flat order of asphalt pavements, the grid-lines of property. The artists in Pari’s 29th exhibition visualise the ways class, capital and colonialism mediate our views of home, space and people—how power decides who, what, and where is a weed. Some confront the cruelty of this condition, its predation: gambling, policing, aristocratic sensibilities, suburban alienation. Others give us reprieve, honouring the enduring resilience of plants, family, community and tradition against it. We weave together established Western Sydney artists with those still sprouting in our gallery in Parramatta—a place where things are increasingly designated as weeds, being ordered to leave. For weeds cause more trouble when tangled together.

Accessibility

The gallery is street level, with level access between the street and the gallery.
Street entrance door is 1790mm wide and 2050mm tall.
Ceiling is 2650mm tall.
There are two non-accessible toilets close to the gallery with a key from Pari. Both are single stall, one has a sanitary bin.
There is one accessible toilet and three ambulant toilets 100 metres from the gallery. From outside Pari, go down Hunter Street and turn right at the corridor. No key is required during opening hours.
Assistance animals and pets are welcome, and drinking water is available.
Main space has LED lights. You may request the Gallery Keeper to switch these off.
Workshop and Toilet have fluorescent lights.
Exhibitions may have audio-visual artworks with audio playing in the space or through headphones. It may not be possible to mute the artwork if other visitors are present, however earplugs are available.
Behind reception is our AV room, a small space that can be used for visitors needing more privacy and reduced noise. Please ask the Gallery Keeper for access.
Office chairs, 2-seater couches, fold-out chairs, mats, cushions and blankets are available.
Wi-Fi is available.
Parramatta is often 5-10 degrees hotter than the inner-city and eastern parts of Sydney. Our air conditioning is currently not operational; there is 1 pedestal fan and 1 box fan.
You can refer to Parramatta’s Air Quality Index via this link.

Thank you to Belfast Trans Resource Centre for providing their access info as a template.

Please find our full access information document here. If you have any questions, please get in touch.