Cosmic Beings exhibition at Cement Fondu explores speculative futures through alien perspectives

Cement Fondu in Sydney presents the group exhibition Cosmic Beings from 5 August to 24 September, featuring eight international artists. The show aims to foster a new cosmic understanding by challenging artificial divisions between humans, nature, and other species through speculative narratives. Tony Oursler's 2006 sculpture Blue features a video-projected alien delivering anxious monologues. Kalanjay Dhir's 2023 video installation A Perfect Storm; Taju's time on Earth with seven humans follows an alien puppet interviewing Sydney locals about everyday topics. Black Quantum Futurism, the collaboration between Camae Ayewa and Rasheedah Phillips, presents vinyl diagrams and sound recordings questioning Western space-time concepts, including discussions from the 2022 Prime Meridian Unconference in New York with 21 participants. Chitra Ganesh's 2021 digital animation Before the War combines drawings, archival film, and Buddhist iconography in kaleidoscopic visions. The exhibition uses minimalist, dim lighting to evoke outer space while presenting works that range from kitsch to visually impactful but sometimes opaque installations.