‘The Seasick’ exhibition paints Australian refugee realities

Ahead of Refugee Week, Adelaide visual art exhibition, The Seasick, frames a lens on the deeply personal experiences of Iranian refugees who arrived in Australia by boat.

In a series of paintings and postcards, the artists and siblings, Elaheh Mahdavi and Arman Mahdavi, explore the lives of those who fled their homeland, the loved ones left behind, and the challenges of navigating Australia’s current immigration processes.

Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, opened the exhibition, highlighting an urgent need to reform Australia’s refugee policies, arguing for permanent protection and humane treatment.

 

 

The exhibition is located at Gallery 1855: 2 Haines Road, Tea Tree Gully – runs until Saturday 19 July.

Image: Source: Photo – Jordan Zerella

Produced By: Jordan Zerella

Featured In Story: Elaheh Mahdavi – Artist and Iranian refugee, Arman Mahdavi – Artist, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young – Green’s senator, and Roddy Emblem – attendee of exhibtion and refugee

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 19 June 2025