Sparks in the Dark: 208 weeks of resilience

Exhibition | 15–24 August 2025 | Next Wave, Brunswick Mechanics Institute

Sparks in the Dark was a powerful art exhibition celebrating the strength, creativity, and resilience of women artisans touched by the ongoing effects of the Afghanistan war.

Presented by Mursal Azizi, an Afghan woman and founder of Hoori Handmade who fled Afghanistan in 2021 and has since worked to empower Afghan women through art, education, and income opportunities, and Kat Rae, a former Australian Army veteran and war widow who uses her artistic practice to explore memory, loss, and the human cost of conflict.

In collaboration with Next Wave, the exhibition combined embroidered artworks by Afghan women with new works by the artists, creating a moving dialogue between tradition and contemporary art. Together, they brought forward a collective story of resilience, resistance, and shared humanity.

At the heart of the exhibition were 208 hand-embroidered handkerchiefs created by over 30 women living in Afghanistan.
Each handkerchief represented one week lived under Taliban rule — a powerful symbol of survival and endurance since the regime’s return in 2021.

In Afghan tradition, an embroidered handkerchief is a symbol of love, sharing, and remembrance. In this context, it became a testament to strength and defiance, as women used their stitches to reclaim identity, preserve culture, and express hope for a better future.

This project was made possible through the efforts of Zeiagol in Herat, Afghanistan, who connected vulnerable women artisans to the initiative and continues to share their voices through art and craft.

Sparks in the Dark was honoured by a special visit from the Governor-General of Australia, acknowledging the exhibition’s significance as a symbol of women’s resilience and cross-cultural collaboration.
The visit reflected national recognition of art’s power to heal, empower, and connect communities across borders.

Marking the fourth anniversary of Afghanistan’s regime change, the exhibition received overwhelming community support.
All artworks were sold out, with proceeds helping Afghan women artisans earn income and continue their creative work.

Sparks in the Dark was proudly presented by Mursal Azizi and Kat Rae, in collaboration with Next Wave, with support from:
Creative Australia • Wayward Women Giving Fund • Australian National Veterans Art Museum • Australian War Memorial