Diaspora is the dispersion of people from their original countries. Relocating can have various effects on those who are being dispersed, such as cultural displacement, shifting identity, and lack of a sense of belonging. The new Grebel Gallery exhibit, DRAFTS 6: Mapping Diasporic Identities, aims to build understanding of diaspora experiences through art. This exhibit features 6 contemporary artists; Wen Li, Tazeen Qayyum, Sumaira Tazeen, Paria Shahverdi, JJ Lee, and Faseeh Saleem. Their stories draw on personal histories, cultural heritage, and lived experiences in the diaspora to create works that question conventional ideas of identity and belonging.
The Kindred Centre for Peace Advancement’s Program Assistant, Rumaysa Syed, was able to interview the exhibit curator, Soheila Esfahani, for more insight into the art pieces. Soheila is a visual artist based in Waterloo who teaches at Western University in London, Ontario. Her research focuses on looking into cultural translation and how to navigate the life of ‘in-between-ness’ within the context of Canadian culture.
Wen Li, one of the featured artists, displays a table with name cards on it. On one side of the card there is a western name, and on the other, there is a name of Chinese origin. The purpose of these name cards is to show that when Chinese individuals come to Canada, their names are perceived as “hard to pronounce.” This leads many Chinese people to westernize their names for an easier pronunciation—the names on these cards are all people that Wen Li personally knows who have changed their names. Soheila noted that the way the cards in this art piece are positioned is reminiscent of a conference where people simply pick up their name cards and keep them in front of them.
Paria Shahverdi, another featured artist, displays her Iranian heritage in her work by using Iranian clothing patterns as the foundation for the piece. Soheila comments that this piece displays the complexities associated with being diasporic individuals. She adds that Paria is creating a deep space that may be hard to navigate when you first see it, but over time, you notice the different patterns and trends within the piece.
The Art Director for this exhibit, Faseeh Saleem, has lived in Pakistan, Sweden, and Canada. His piece focuses on looking at the specific things that people take with them when they move, especially at times when they must take certain things and discard others. Faseeh, who has moved many times, finds it interesting how each item selected when moving denotes a sense of belonging. This concept of moving and choosing what to take is represented through the cultural clothing Faseeh has on display for his piece.
Ultimately, words aren’t enough to describe this exhibit. Mapping Diasporic Identities is an amazing display of multiple artists’ experience in a diaspora community. To get a full understanding of this art, it’s best to visit the Grebel Gallery and reflect on diaspora experiences through the lens of the artists. For a chance to meet some of the artists, attend the exhibit’s launch night on October 22nd. If you can't make the launch, the exhibit is open until February 28, 2026!