My residency project involved researching flora of both Iran, the place of my familial cultural roots, and that of the Okanagan, my home in Canada. I aimed to explore cultural hybridity and diaspora through natural elements like plants, which can be local to geographic locations but are not defined by borders. Using paint and drawing techniques I engaged in a space of experimentation and creative play, offering opportunities for new discoveries. These explorations into flora take inspiration from the historic role of flowers in queer culture, such as pansies, violets, lavender, and carnations. This project inquires into the role of cultural and social symbols, how they relate to identity, land, home, and culture. The plant artworks are surrounded by a grid-like pattern adapted to the physical architecture of the exhibition space. This rigid structure is juxtaposed with the organic, natural elements of the flora, presenting a balance of nature with the man-made. By combining Iranian flora with Okanagan flora, I continue my explorations into cultural hybridity, diaspora, and in-betweenness.


Photos by Takashi Hokoi.