Made between 1986 and 1999, these nine films and videos feature leather and whips in the streets and S&M havens in the sheets. While Azian’s contemporaries from a “brat pack” of insurgent women artists like Cecilia Dougherty and Leslie Singer quickly achieved attention, the expanse of Nurudin’s work has never been fully exhibited or appreciated.

Ignited by unabashed, defiant queer passion, Azian renders her politics and sexuality through murky pixels and radical propositions for self-defence. This retrospective is a rare opportunity to spotlight, re-contextualise, and experience an almost-forgotten voice from a monumental moment in queer history.

 

Malaysian Series 1-6 – 1986-1987 | 22min
Reflecting on the repression of rights in Malaysia, Azian whips a series of everyday objects found in domestic contexts.

Automobile Clean-up Expediency – 1988 | 17min
Azian attempts to get legal permission to set a car on fire.

Nancy’s Nightmare – 1988 | 5min
A leather clad dominatrix and her submissive have fun.

Without Makeup You Haven’t Got a Prayer – 1988 | 4min
A woman seduces the camera amidst industrial metal and concrete.

The Headhunters of Borneo — A Recollection – 1989 | 11min
A woman is immersed in a documentary on the headhunting practices of Dayak tribesmen.

What Do Pop Art, Pop Music, Pornography and Politics Have to do with Real Life – 1990 | 19min
Pop Art is reimagined by bootleg Andy Warhol and his goons.

Wicked Radiance – 1991 | 5min
The practice of traditional Southeast Asian shadow puppetry provides cover for forbidden desire between two women.

Bitter Strength: Sadistic Response Version – 1992 | 2min
Pixels meet BDSM to form a disconcerting visual language.

A Gun is Useless in a Dead Girl’s Hands – 1999 | 3min
A tongue-in-cheek recruitment video for the lesbian militia.

Content note(s): Contains flashing images, BDSM, whipping, flogging, sex, nudity, (intentional) cultural appropriation, death penalty, simulation of hanging, handling of animal carcass, arson, mention of murder, knife wielding, suggestion of beheading, abduction, guns, mention of gun violence.

 

Curated by Renee Ng, Sasha Han, and Daryl Cheong.
As part of Queer East 2026, a cross-disciplinary festival that showcases boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities.

 

 

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