Sparks in the Dark was a celebration of the strength and creativity of women living with the ongoing impacts of the Afghanistan war, presented at Next Wave from 15–24 August 2025.

I co-developed the exhibition with Afghan artist Mursal Azizi. Together, we brought traditional and contemporary art practices into conversation through new works by Mursal and me, alongside 208 embroidered handkerchiefs created by more than 30 women living in Afghanistan.

The 208 handkerchiefs represented each week since the Taliban began systematically erasing women from public life in Afghanistan.

The installation, together with its public program, emerged from our distinct yet deeply interconnected experiences of war. I am an Australian Army veteran and war widow, while Mursal is an Afghan woman born and raised in Afghanistan. She fled to Pakistan after the Taliban seized power in 2021, lived as a refugee for two years, and resettled in Australia in 2023. Since then, she has worked to empower Afghan women in Australia and overseas by creating artistic, educational and employment opportunities for more than 50 women and girls.

As Mursal explains:

"As a multi-disciplinary artist, my practice is deeply rooted in my identity and experiences as an Afghan woman. I believe in social change through art, and for the women sharing their works in Sparks in the Dark, art is an act of resistance and hope for the future – a testament to their resilience, strength, and determination to assert their existence and preserve their identity."

My own practice shares this commitment to truth-telling through art. I am drawn to creating counter-monuments that layer place, memory and experience to examine the enduring costs of war and who or what is forgotten in its aftermath. I served in the Australian Army for 20 years, deploying to the Middle East on three operations, including Afghanistan twice, where I worked alongside Afghans to support security, reconstruction and gender equality. Like many Australian veterans who dedicated years to helping build a more peaceful and equitable Afghanistan, I continue to grieve what has been lost under the Taliban regime.

For me, Sparks in the Dark is ultimately about the resilience, creativity and humanity of women in the face of adversity. The consequences of the Afghanistan war continue to be felt across generations and borders. By bringing together the work of these remarkable women—especially those still living in Afghanistan—we share a simple but powerful message with the world: they refuse to be silenced.

Sparks in the Dark was presented in collaboration with Next Wave.

Next Wave is a leading not-for-profit arts organisation dedicated to supporting early-career artists working across multiple art forms.

This project was assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, as well as through the Next Wave, Wayward Women Giving Fund, Australian National Veterans Art Museum, Young Veterans and the Australian War Memorial. Thank you, Emily Lord-Parsons, for your extraordinary mentorship.

Stunning opening photos credit @lensoforion