Another Quiet Protest by Alistair Fowler
WHEN | 4th to 29th June
WHERE | Residents Gallery
Another Quiet Protest—stillness fills the space, an atmosphere thick with both tension and tenderness. Over a dozen gentle warriors stand suspended in time, their surfaces etched with the thoughts of thousands. These fictitious figures speak volumes through silence. Historical slogans and words of affirmation are boldly scribed across their forms, echoing decades of queer resistance and resilience. Bathed in the shifting hues of the progressive rainbow colours, they carry a quiet, powerful message of hope: we are here, we have always been here, and we will not disappear.
This body of work explores the quieter side of protest—those moments of stillness that carry deep meaning. While queer activism has often taken to the streets through marches, riots, and vigils, it also lives in subtle gestures: in the courage to exist, to affirm one’s identity, to hold space for others. From the Stonewall Riots to ACT UP, to the ongoing fight for trans rights, queer protest is not only loud—it is patient, persistent, and profoundly human. These figures do not shout; they listen. They do not march; they hold ground. In an era where LGBTQ+ rights are once again under threat, their quiet presence becomes an act of defiance—a protest against erasure, and a whisper of what still can be.
With thanks to the Australian Queer Archives for access to historical materials informing the language throughout the work
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Alistair Fowler (he/him) is an award winning, exhibiting artist, based across Melbourne Naarm and the Daylesford Macedon Ranges region, on Wurundjeri and Dja Dja Wurrung Country, respectively.
Inspired by his love of the natural world, Alistair's work often reflects the fragility and patchwork nature of the human condition. Evoking emotive feelings of familiar with a sense of play. With a background in building and antique conservation, Alistair's attention to detail is reflected in his trademark fantastical creatures and unique glaze finishes. how many words? Alistair works across a range of mediums, including ceramics, drawing, painting and woodwork, often incorporating up cycled materials and found items into his work. Alistair also raises awareness through his exhibition pieces for marginalised peoples, climate crises and endangered species.
Alistair's artwork is held in private collections across Australia, parts of Europe, Asia, Maroondah City Council and The Victorian State Library.