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Sarnia, ON – Recent world events have brought questions of immigration and cultural assimilation to the forefront of public consciousness. Sarnia artist Aruba Mahmud’s exhibition Hairesy, examines the internal and external conflicts of being different in western society. The exhibition opens on First Friday, February 6 and runs until March 22, 2009. The artist will be present at the First Friday opening from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will offer a tour of her exhibition on Saturday, February 21st at 1:00pm.
As the Muslim Canadian daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Mahmud’s artwork deals with issues surrounding culture and religion, particularly in the context of her Canadian identity and upbringing. “Having been born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario, a very small community with little cultural or religious diversity, I have often been challenged on what exactly it means to be ‘Western’ or ‘Canadian’, and whether I fit either of these categories,” said Mahmud. “I have in the last few years become more conscious of both my culture and religion, due to both internal and external influences, one of the most significant being my decision to start wearing the hijab.” The hijab raises political, feminist and social questions, and on the whole has highlighted the values, expectations and even contradictions for Pakistani Muslim women living in the West.
Using strands of hair from both Muslim and non-Muslim women, Mahmud explores these issues through traditional Pakistani Mehndi and Islamic geometric patterns. While each woman’s hair naturally differs in colour, texture, and thickness, the fact that these canvasses are not distinguishable from one another based on cultural or religious background is significant and invites the viewer to re-think the recent debates about difference and integration in Western, Canadian society.
Mahmud is a native of Sarnia now living in London. She received her Bachelor of Arts with Honours Specialization in Visual Arts in 2007 and her Bachelor of Education in 2008, both from The University of Western Ontario. Currently she is working as an intermediate level English, History, and Geography teacher in London while also pursuing her artistic career in mixed media drawing, and painting.
For more information about Lambton County, visit www.lambtononline.ca.
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Contact:
Holly Rutherford
Gallery Assistant Community Relations, Gallery Lambton
Telephone: 519 336-8127
email: holly.rutherford@county-lambton.on.ca
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