Warsan Mohammed — To Ourselves
25 July, 2026 — 23 August, 2026
Warsan Mohammed, To Ourselves, 2026
This exhibition follows a protagonist on a journey to understand her longing for a motherland she is unable to experience in its pre-conflict state, while taking agency over her Somali identity. As she navigates growing up in Australia, she seeks to understand her own relationship to the motherland. She grapples with the feeling of missing a place she has never truly known, carrying memories that were passed down to her rather than lived herself. Through stories, photographs, language, and community, she pieces together an understanding of home, searching for connection across distance and generations.
Connecting to our identity is how we do the work of preserving our culture; it is how we keep it alive. As Somali Diaspora, we never got to experience our motherlands as our parents and grandparents knew them before the war. This absence reflects the sense of loss felt by many diaspora children living in a post-conflict reality. There is a quiet grief in inheriting a homeland through memory alone, yet there is also beauty in the ways we continue to carry it with us. As a collective, we are forming new stories for the next generation. More importantly, this exhibition displays resistance through visibility. We see Somali youth proudly showcasing what it means to be Somali, regardless of how the media may portray Somalis. Through this exhibition, we witness how the Somali diaspora carries itself proudly and unapologetically, redefining what it means to be Somali while preserving culture across generations. In doing so, they transform longing into belonging, ensuring that culture is not only remembered, but lived.
Warsan Mohammed is a Somali/Australian director and photographer; she drew inspiration from decolonial thinkers, which led her to recognise the profound importance of controlling one’s own narrative and not allowing others to define it.
Warsan’s artistic journey is driven by profound themes of self-confidence and a sense of belonging. In her work, she prioritises marginalised voices at the forefront of her visual narratives, showcasing the beauty within her communities.
Her art captures authentic representations of the Black and Muslim experience, serving as an inspiration for younger generations to embrace their identities with confidence. Warsan’s dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices remains a cornerstone of her art practice.