Where there is power, there is resistance. Standing up to power and probing the boundaries of societal norms and conventions crystalizes alternative points of view. These ever-evolving resistive tensions form the basis of collective resilience, as individuals develop supportive bonds and an interwoven sense of identity through their shared experiences. Over time, people develop a multiplicity of ingenious and often creative ways to interpret, navigate, and challenge imbalanced power relations and their long-term impacts.

Each of the eight Iranian Canadian artists featured in this exhibition have developed a distinctive visual language rooted in the lens of a common cultural background. Through paintings, sculptures, photos, videos and installations, they reconcile experiences and identities fragmented in navigating diverse and evolving societal structures. In increasingly precarious times marked by socio-political upheaval and displacement, what emerges is a powerful exploration of resilience, adaptability, and individual agency.