Salam from Niagara Falls

Curated by Mitra Fakhrashrafi

Salam from Niagara Falls / سلام از آبشار نیاگارا took up first- and second-generation Afghan and Iranian home-making in the context of ongoing settler colonialism on Turtle Island. Family photographs taken at Niagara Falls are a staple in many migrant and refugee homes, often evoking newfound relationships to belonging in Canada. Through photo-based practice, Melika Hashemi, Ferozan Nasiri, and Zahra Rajabi refuted the nostalgia associated with Canada as “a nation of immigrants,” drawing from and digitally manipulating personal archives to share experiences with migration, displacement, and settlement. The works were accompanied by a critical intervention on Tar Sands Expansion by anonymous street-artist Swarm. With the support of Wares Fazelyar and Nima Esmailpour of Taklif Collective, the curatorial statement was made available in English, Dari, and Farsi.

Accompanying programs: Native Youth Sexual Health Network Iftar fundraiser and an artist talk with Shelby Lisk.

Presented at Tavoos Restaurant and a part of the 2019 Contact Photography Festival.

Press

“Salam From Niagara Falls” [Review] by Laila Jafri for LooseLeaf Magazine