An Aurora art gallery is opening a new art show next week featuring Iranian women artists who explore issues facing the diaspora in Canada, as well as Iranian women back home.
The show, set to open at the Royal Rose Gallery Sept. 20, has been curated by Aitak Sorahitalab, who also works at the Aurora Cultural Centre, and features works by herself, Aurora artist Raha Fard and Sora Kheiry.
The show, called Liberation Narratives, tackles topics related to being an immigrant and living as part of the Iranian diaspora in Canada, and how news from Sorahitalab’s home country, particularly the Women, Life, Freedom movement, impact those living in Canada.
“It’s basically related to having two lives, one inside and how you, as a diasporic person, ... react to whatever happens, not only in Canada but back home, and how it effects your life,” said Sorahitalab.
Sorahitalab, who immigrated to Canada 11 years ago from Tehran, said creating a space for dialogue was important to tackle issues facing the Iranian diaspora in Canada.
“I believe it is important to have a dialogue with the community that I live in and work in, so we can get a bit more closer to each other and understand each other and hopefully act accordingly,” she said.
The pieces cover a wide array of art forms, Fard combining a self-woven Persian rug with photography, while Kheiry's work combines painting and collage and Sorahitalab uses ceramics and video projection.
Rosa Calabrese, owner of Royal Rose Art Gallery, noted the gallery had previously displayed a banner made by Sorahitalab as a tribute Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman who was arrested by the morality police for not wearing a hijab correctly, which sprouted the Women, Life, Freedom protest movement in Iran in September 2022 after her death.
“We didn't want it to be a one-time conversation,” said Calabrese. “It's definitely an ongoing issue that nothing ever gets resolved overnight. So we wanted to keep it in people's minds.”
Calabrese, herself a first-generation Canadian and child of Italian immigrants, said a variety of people will be able to connect to the work and learn from it.
“It's really not just an Iranian issue. All women can relate and get behind what the (Women, Life, Freedom) movement really stands for,” she added. “We definitely need to unite to make that better for everyone.”
A reception is being held for the opening of Liberation Narratives at Royal Rose Gallery, 15210 Yonge St., on Sept. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The reception is open to the public and free to attend.
