"Twisted Bodies Tell Their Tales" revisits the narratives of colonisation through Desmond Mah’s neurodivergent and multidisciplinary approach to painting. Integrating vivid imagery, textual elements, and AI voices, Mah unravels the intertwined stories of scheming politics, powerful figures, wild creatures, and menacing flora, revealing the turbulent legacies of colonialism. Drawing from the histories of Singapore, his birthplace, and Australia, his adopted home, Mah embarks on an exploration of colonial themes. Through scholarly research, historical archives, and AI-driven dialogues, he brings to light neglected aspects of colonialism, creating speculative paintings that expand the discourse on its history and contemporary relevance.

The use of paper—historically linked to memory, record-keeping, and documentation—anchors Mah’s speculative figurative works. He manipulates paper through the East Asian papercraft Zhizha, traditionally used in religious and funeral rituals associated with remembrance, heritage, and cultural continuity. His 'woven paint' marks on these contemporary sculptural paper paintings give them a textile-like quality, reflecting how histories are interwoven, disentangled, and rethreaded—shaped, reframed, and re-envisioned.

This solo exhibition, part of the 2nd Indian Ocean Craft Triennial Festival, is generously supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (Western Australia).

Regalis Gemmiferus (2024)

The Gift (2024)

Trollus Negatorius 20240826, Australis (2024)

I Secure My Place Whilst Disregarding Others (Capt. J. Cook) (2024)

Empire Builder (Private William Wickham) (2024)

Empire Builder (Private John Sainsbury) (2024)

Empire Builder (2024)

Labourer No. 38 (2024)

Dear Right Honourable Lord Hastings (2024)

Secret Letter to a Friend in Banjarmasin (2024)

A Tyrant at Koorabup (2024)

The road-kill I saw leaving Koorabup (Denmark, Western Australia) and later in my mind (2023)

Interviews + Essays + Reviews


Jorgenson D., Hollow Icons: Desmond Mah at Mossenson, Dispatch Review, 23 Oct 2024

Morelli N., Twisted Bodies Tell Their Tales, Curatorial Essay, Oct 2024

Buratti R., Upfront/ Previews, Art Collector (Australian magazine), Issue Oct – Dec 2024, p. 40

Di Ciero L., Colonial Dualities, interview, Artists Chronicle, Sept/Oct Edition, p. 18, 2024

Artist Talk (abridged), 4 mins

Exhibition Opening, 16th October 2024

Artist Talk, 40 mins