Though distinct in theme and approach, both exhibitions stemmed from hands-on workshops with local community members resulting in artworks that offered powerful insights into the human condition.

Visitors included friends and family of the artists, curious students, and regular attendees of Bankstown Arts Centre, many of whom described the exhibitions as “thought-provoking” and shared how meaningful it was to see familiar names and powerful works.

Bone Drift: Chimeric Conversations, a collaboration between artist and researcher Helen Pynor and creative producer Lizzie Crouch, invited audiences into a multi-sensory space that questioned the boundaries of (dis)abled identities.

Through materials ranging from human bone to delicate embroidery, the exhibition portrayed identity as something fluid, layered and constantly evolving.

“The exhibition drew attention to the ways we are shaped physically, socially and emotionally by our experiences and the relations we are entangled in,” said Crouch. “Just as bone is constantly reshaped by unseen cellular processes, our identities, too, are always in flux.”

Artists from Canterbury-Bankstown, Greater Western Sydney and beyond used varied materials and techniques to reflect on their own bodies and experiences, creating personal artworks.

Slow Down, Remember which ran concurrently in the Arts Centre foyer, paid tribute to intergenerational strength, creative resistance and enduring connections to land.

Created by award-winning artist, writer and women’s advocate Amani Haydar, the exhibition featured works developed in collaboration with women from the Bankstown Women’s Health Centre and the Racial Justice Centre.

Many participants painted for the first time, using art as a vehicle to process grief, share personal stories and foster healing.

“Both organisations have recognised that art is a powerful way for women to process grief and trauma, share stories and connect with one another,” Haydar said.

“I hope this inspires visitors to pay attention to their own creative impulses and consider the role of creativity within their own lives.”

Local women can contact Bankstown Women’s Health Centre to register their interest in future workshops on (02) 9790 1378.

The exhibitions concluded with a closing artist panel on Saturday 3 May, where Helen Pynor and Lizzie Crouch spoke alongside two workshop participants who both suffer with disabilities, sparking a rich discussion on the intricacies of identity and the stories our bodies hold.

Bankstown Arts Centre’s next exhibition, Architectures of Bankstown, a partnership with Western Sydney University, supported by Powerhouse and Holdmark, opens 9 May.

For more information on upcoming programs at Bankstown Arts Centre, visit cb.city/WhatsOnArtsCentre