Cassils, ‘Inextinguishable Fire: Burn for Portrait’, 2015. Photo: Cassils and Robin Black. Courtesy: the artist and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Perth. 

Cassils is a U.S.-based transgender artist who has achieved international recognition for their engagement with the body as a form of social sculpture. The word Alchemichas origins in medieval processes that sought to turn base metals into gold. The dissolution of form, nature and substance are recurring themes in Cassils’ practice. Combining athletic strength with theatrical drama, the artist shakes up art history, mythology and popular symbols to challenge dominant ideologies. Presented in association with Perth Festival, this is their first exhibition in Australia and a revealing entry point to the artist’s oeuvre. Curated by Anne Loxley and Eugenio Viola.