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Darebin Art Collection
From the collection of Darebin Art Collection
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Sculpture, Ara Dolatian, 'Heroes', 2023

  • A colourful, irregularly shaped sculpture with metallic sections. There is an eye-like shape on the left-hand side and several shiny metallic sections which look similar to fish scales or bird feathers.

    Ara Dolatian, 'Heroes', 2023. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2026.

  • A colourful, irregularly shaped sculpture with metallic sections. There is an eye-like shape on the right-hand side, a large white section and several shiny metallic sections which look similar to fish scales or bird feathers.

    Ara Dolatian, 'Heroes', 2023. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2026.

  • A colourful, irregularly shaped sculpture with metallic sections. There is an eye-like shape on the left-hand side and several shiny metallic sections which look similar to fish scales or bird feathers.
  • A colourful, irregularly shaped sculpture with metallic sections. There is an eye-like shape on the right-hand side, a large white section and several shiny metallic sections which look similar to fish scales or bird feathers.

Artists statement

Ara Dolation's practice examines cultural ecologies associated with lost and stolen artefacts. In particular, looking at the Al-Jazira region, the area between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, also known as Mesopotamia.

The work is a tangible visual memory of sculptural deities, architectural forms, and vessels. The artist's intentions are not to replicate the pieces but to draw from them.

Dolation's ceramics are eccentric in form. They use peculiar colour schemes, pleasing curves and fragile edges. His work is inspired by archaeological figures and decayed architectural sites. The artist revives some of this lost history, while examining how archives are often fragmented. The work also pays homage to clay, a foundational material that was used throughout ancient Mesopotamia.

'Heroes' was donated to the City of Darebin through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Artist Bio
Ara Dolatian is an interdisciplinary artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) from RMIT University (2012) and a Master’s in Social Science (Environment and Planning).

Dolatian’s practice explores the intersection of cultural landscapes and natural ecosystems, with a particular focus on Mesopotamian artefacts and literature. Through his sculptural and ceramic work, Dolatian creates hybrid and reimagined forms that evoke both the ancient and the contemporary, exploring the evolution of deities and mythical beings within these historical landscapes. His pieces, characterised by distinctive shapes, captivating colour palettes, and delicate contours, bring to life the essence of archaeological figures and decayed architectural sites.

Dolatian’s work has been exhibited widely in Australia and internationally, garnering support from prestigious organisations such as Creative Australia, Creative Victoria, and the City of Melbourne.

Dolatian has exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria, Scott Lawrie Gallery, Auckland New Zealand, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney, Contemporary Art Space, Montevideo, and Liverpool Powerhouse in Sydney. His work is held in a number of private and public collections.

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