Ondru

Ondru – Voice through art. We provoke thought & evoke change through art. Founded: 6 June 2009 / First Project: 15 May 2011. Creator of Voiceless Journeys.

17/06/2026

What remains when history is fragmented?

In Fragments of a Portrait II, Peter Poonaiyah layers memory, identity and collective experience into a portrait that feels both personal and universal. Faces emerge through textured landscapes, reminding us that who we are is shaped by the stories, journeys and histories that came before us.

This work invites us to reflect on the fragments that make up our own identities, and the ways memory persists, even when parts of the story are lost.

Explore more stories of identity, migration and belonging at Fragments of Us.

Opening Night: Friday 19 June 2026
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Off the Kerb Gallery

Entry is free, tickets are limited. You can secure your spot here: https://www.nul.org.au/events/fragments-of-us

11/06/2026

Ondru, Nūl, and Off the Kerb Gallery are incredibly proud to introduce the diaspora artists of Fragments of Us. This exhibition explores Sri Lankan identity, brought to life through a powerful, multidisciplinary art project.

For the Sri Lankan diaspora, identity is not a straight line. It is a tapestry of duality, caught between memory and forgetting, fracture and becoming. In this upcoming exhibition, these artists have transformed their lived experiences into their art. In doing so, they refuse the dominant narratives that erase complex, real, human stories.

We invite you to step into the worlds they have built and witness a deeply moving human journey.

Fragments of Us runs from 19-27 of June. Learn more about the event and register for your free ticket here: https://www.nul.org.au/events/fragments-of-us

01/06/2026

Nūl and Ondru invite you to Fragments of Us, an immersive exhibition exploring Sri Lankan and diaspora identity through the lens of memory, heritage, and becoming.

Bringing together artists and community members from Sri Lanka and the diaspora, each weaving their own stories into a collective exploration, identity here becomes both a question and a declaration. It is an invitation to look beyond the boundaries of ethnicity, religion, geography, and gender.

Ultimately, this is a reflection on the universal human condition: how identity is formed in the face of rupture, how wounds are carried across borders, and how art can stitch fragments into something resembling wholeness.

Event Details

- Where: Off the Kerb Gallery, Collingwood, VIC 3066, Melbourne
- When: 19th -27th June 2026
- Cost: Free
- Opening night: 19 June, 6pm -8pm with live dance and music performances (Registration required)
- Conversation Series: 21 June 2pm, 27 June 3pm (Registration required)

Find out more details here: https://www.nul.org.au/fragments-of-us

20/05/2026

In one of the first workshops for Human Thesis: Hazara Stories, artist Zsofia Samu explored a simple question with members of the Hazara community: What makes you happy?

Participants wrote the answers on post-it notes. What was revealed was a commonality in the answers. Across different lived experiences, the core of what made people happy was profoundly similar. Family and friends, nature, and a morning cup of coffee. Humans have always returned to similar universal needs of wanting love, safety, belonging, and connection. Happiness gathers in small human recognitions.

The messages from the initial post-its were explored through workshops and transformed with care and attention into art displayed at the exhibition.

26/04/2026

Recapping moments from Human Thesis: Hazara Stories - we are happy to announce that nearly 200 people attended the event.

Big thanks to all guests who participated and everyone who brought it to life.

20/04/2026

From all of us at Ondru, thank you to everyone who joined us for Human Thesis: Hazara Stories this past weekend. Your presence and support created an evening defined by connection, reflection and deep understanding. In this, we witnessed the strength of community, one that bridges differences and grounds us in our shared humanity.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Hazara community, the Hazara Shamama Association, and artists and performers who brought these powerful stories to life.

Let's continue to create spaces where every story is heard and valued.

18/04/2026

“Every community should have artists. They are the storytellers.” - Alia

After months of collaboration, the Human Thesis: Hazara Stories exhibition finally opens its doors today at Black Box Theathre, Walker Street Gallery & Arts Centre at 6:30 pm.

We are honoured to share these stories with you and we can’t wait to see you there. Learn more on our website.

17/04/2026

Ondru is honoured to launch Human Thesis: Hazara Stories tomorrow.

Swipe for the full schedule, FAQs and how to get there.

See you on Saturday, 18 April at Black Box Theatre, Dandenong.

16/04/2026

“First and foremost, I’m a human, then I’m a Hazara.”- Arif

2 days to go.

Final chance to register for tickets to this intimate and powerful experience: https://www.ondru.org/events-index/human-thesis-hazara-stories

From the team at Ondru, we hope to see you there.

15/04/2026

As we approach the opening of Human Thesis: Hazara Stories, we wish to express our profound gratitude to those who have worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life.

This project was developed in association with the greater city of Dandenong and the Hazara Shamama Association over 6 months through storytelling and collaborative artmaking workshops.

At Ondru, we believe that creative practices offer a path for people to reconnect. Our artists are vital to this journey of rebuilding a sense of belonging. At its heart, this is a collective process where meaning is created together.

We are honoured to collaborate with our incredible associate artists:

• Zsofia Samu- Associate Artist transforming stories into intricate woven forms and sculptural works, expressing layered identities, memory, and resilience through tactile practice
• Shane Lam- Photographer behind the layered portrait series capturing the depth and multiplicity of lived experiences
• Kathleen Gonzalez- Associate Artist interpreting Hazara stories through contemporary dance and movement
• Ifthikhar Sarvari - Hazara musician performing vocals and harmonium, accompanied by the rhythms of the tabla.

Meaningful change does not happen in isolation- it is built through collaboration, trust, and shared effort.

Join us in celebrating these stories and the community behind them. Secure your ticket here- https://www.ondru.org/events-index/human-thesis-hazara-stories

Address

Level 8, 225 Bourke Street
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Telephone

+61415380249

Website

http://www.ondru.org/

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