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Cultured Pallets

Acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2010-2020
24 x 48 x 10 inches

Inspired by my experience of living in both Western (Canadian) and Eastern (Iranian) cultures, my work focuses on the concept of cultural translation and investigates the processes involved in cultural transfer and transformation. My art practice navigates the terrains of cultural translation through two theoretical frameworks: Walter Benjamin’s understanding of translation as a departure from the original, and Homi Bhabha’s concept of the third space as a negotiated space of “in-betweeness.” 

My own experience as an immigrant influences my application of these theories: I have departed my original home (Iran) and now live in the third space, identifying as neither Canadian nor Iranian, but somewhere in between. Since the third space hinges on an act of negotiation, the audience’s interaction with my art is crucial. Viewers’ unique experiences and cultures inform their “reading” of the work, thus allowing them to enter the third space by engaging in cultural translation: the viewers carry their culture across onto my art, and vice versa.

My Cultured Pallets series uses shipping pallets to embody and facilitate this cultural translation. These transient installations emerge from my ongoing process of marking shipping pallets with various designs and ornamentation, and an email address. After exhibiting the work, I return the pallets to circulation and track them by engaging in email correspondence with those who find them. By remaining in a permanent state of transit, the works symbolize “in-betweeness.” Returning to the etymological roots of translation as “carrying or bringing across,” my practice explores the concept of cultural translation as the act of “carrying or bringing across” units of culture. In my installations, the decorated pallets metaphorically serve as objects of holding: “bearers of culture” that continuously circulate across peoples and cultures. As a result, my work also evokes issues of migration as people, ultimately, function as “bearers” and “translators” of culture in our current globalized state.
Soheila Esfahani grew up in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Canada in 1992. She received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario and her BA in Fine Arts from the University of Waterloo. She is an award-winning visual artist and recipient of numerous grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund. She is a recipient of 2016 Waterloo Region Arts Awards and was nominated for the Jameel Prize at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, UK in 2015. Her work has been exhibited across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax and collected by various public and private institutions, including the Canada Council’s Art Bank. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the Western University and is a member of the Red Head Gallery in Toronto.

Soheila Esfahani

EDUCATION
2010     Master of Fine Arts, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
2003     Honours Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts, Studio Specialization, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021     TBD, The Red Head Gallery, Toronto, ON, (upcoming)
2019     Pattern (dis)Placement, The Red Head Gallery, Toronto & Redeemer University College Gallery, Ancaster, ON.
2018     Cultural Translation, Grebel Gallery, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
2018     Interstice, Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning, NS. & The Station Gallery, Whitby, ON.
2017     Immigrants, curated by Ivan Jurakic, University of Waterloo Art Gallery, Waterloo, ON.
2017     Interstice, The Red Head Gallery, Toronto, ON. & Republic Gallery, Vancouver, BC.
2017     Artist’s Project, curated by Matthew Ryan Smith, Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, Branford, ON.
2016     In-Between, Durham Art Gallery, Durham, ON.
2014     My Place is Placeless, The Red Head Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2012     12/10/12, Homer Watson House & Gallery, Kitchener, ON.
2011      Somewhere in Between: Poems, Pallets, Patterns, Buffalo Arts Studio, Buffalo, NY.
2010     Trans-(across, over, beyond), MFA Thesis Exhibition, Art Lab, University of Western Ontario, London, ON.
2008    The Seeker & the Search, The Red Head Gallery, Toronto & Robert Langen Art Gallery,Waterloo, ON.
2008     Mapping of a Quest (site-specific installation), Rotunda Gallery, Kitchener, ON.
2007     What is not to be found is my desire, Cambridge Centre for the Arts, Cambridge, ON.
2006     Hear the Secrets Hidden within the Notes, Homer Watson Gallery, Kitchener, ON.
2005     Hear the Secrets Hidden within the Notes, Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto.
2004     Poetic Compositions, Rotunda Gallery, Kitchener, ON & Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto, ON.

SELECTED JURIED & GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021     The Art of Living: On Community, Immigration, and the Migration of Symbols, Jude Abu Zeineh, Soheila Esfahani, Xiaojing Yan, curated by Catherine Bedard, Canadian Cultural Centre, Paris, France. (upcoming)
2020     Translations, curated by Jenelle M Pasiechnik, Campbell River Art Gallery, Campbell River, BC, July 9-Sept. 2 2019-20 Open Channels|Passages Communicants, Canada C3 group exhibition curated by Melissa Rombout, Âjagemô Gallery at Canada Council for the Arts, Ottawa, ON, June 25 2019- January 26 2020
2019 Close to Home, group exhibition curated by Shannon Anderson, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Oakville
2019     Pentimento, group exhibition by members of the Red Head Gallery, Red Head Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2018     Connections & Contexts: 4 Artists Explore Islamic Influences and Traditions, THEMUSEUM, Kitchener, ON.
2018     The Living River Project: Art, Water and Possible Worlds, Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, ON.
2018     Forward Motion, Small Arms Inspection Building, Mississauga, ON.
2018     @redheadgallery, group exhibition by members of the Red Head Gallery, Red Head Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2018     Flow: From the Movement of People to the Circulation of Information, Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC.
2017     Downtown/s: Urban Renewal Today for Tomorrow, The 2017 Art Gallery of Windsor Triennial of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, ON.
2017     Canada: Day 1, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Halifax, NS
2017     Passage + Obstacle, in conjunction with Bridges Math Art conference, University of Waterloo Art Gallery, Waterloo
2017     Dar’a: Full Circle, curated by Jamelie Hassan, Artcite Inc., Windsor, ON.
2015     Material Girls, Curated by Blair Fornwald, Jennifer Matotek & Wendy Peart Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK, Doris McCarthy Art Gallery, Scarborough, ON, Contemporary Calgary, Calgary, AB, College Art Galleries, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Rodman Hall Arts Centre (Brock University), St. Catharines, ON (catalogue)
2016    where/between, Curated by Pantea Haghighi, Equinox Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, AB
2016     Pattern Migration, curated by Kendra Ainsworth, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga, ON.
2015     Traversive Territories, 3 person exhibition, curated by Corinna Ghaznavi, Varley Art Gallery, Markham, ON.
2015     Human Nature, curated by Corinna Ghaznavi, Kenderdine Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, ON.
2014     The Source: Reconsidering Water Through Contemporary Art, Rodman Hall Arts Centre, St. Catherine’s, ON.
2013     The Third Space, curated by Sanaz Mazinani, The York Quay Gallery, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON.
2013     Equal Interference, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, ON.
2013     Ornamental Boundaries, two person exhibition, curated by Crystal Mowry, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
2012     Past Forward | Present Tense, curated by Michelle Salter, Hamilton Artist Inc., Hamilton.
2011     Finding Correspondences, curated by Jordan Strom, Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC.
2011     Convergence, curated by Suzanne Luke, The Communitech Hub, Kitchener, ON.
2011     Evolution|Revolution, Buffalo Arts Studio, Buffalo, NY.
2011     Cafka. 11. Survive. Resist. (Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener & Area), Kitchener, ON.
2011     50 Years of Art: Looking Back at the Future, curated by Jennifer Rudder, First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, ON
2010     Art at Work: Corporate Collecting Practices Today, Part 2, curated by Geraldine Davis, Art Gallery of Mississauga
2009    DIASPORArt: strategy and seduction by Canadian artists from culturally diverse communities in works from the collection of the Canada Council Art Bank, Rideau Hall, Ottawa, ON.
2007     Metaphor, Meditation and the Age of Anger, Gallery 96, Stratford, ON.
2006     Studio Alert: Illuminating the Source, curated by Allan MacKay, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON.
2005     Poem as Image, The Studio, Armonk, NY.
2005     Showcase 05, Cambridge Galleries, Cambridge, ON.
2004     RBC Investments’ Cross-country Canadian Painting Competition Tour: Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB; Brunswick Museum, Saint John, NB; McMaster Museum of Art, Hamilton, ON; Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto, ON.

AWARDS & GRANTS
2020|17|15|13     Ontario Arts Council Production Grant: Mid-career Artist
2018                 Women Who Inspire Awards recipient, Coalition of Muslim Women, Kitchener, ON. 2017 Canada Council for the Arts: Production Grant
2016                 Region of Waterloo Arts Award (Visual Arts Category), Waterloo, ON, Canada.
2016|12|08|06|04 Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant
2015                 Jameel Prize nominee , Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK.
2011-14             Research/Creation Grant in Fine Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada, co-applicant in multi-disciplinary project
2012                 Region of Waterloo Arts Fund Production Grant, Waterloo, ON.
2011|08|05      Ontario Arts Council Production Grant: Emerging Artist
2006                 Honourable Mention in painting, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON.
2004                 Central Canada Semi-finalist: RBS Investments’ Canadian Painting Competition

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2019     Artist talk, Redeemer University college Gallery, Ancaster, ON.
2018     panel member, Rethinking Water Through Contemporary Art, Museum London, London, ON.
2018     Artist talk, Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning, NS.
2017     Artist talk, Art in the Public Sphere, The Returners: Seven Conversations, University of Western Ontario, London
2017     Artist talk, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
2017     Artist talk, University of Lethbridge ART NOW Visiting Artist Lecture series, Lethbridge, AB.
2017     Artist talk, Canada: Day 1, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Halifax, NS
2016     Co-lecturer with Matthew Scott (Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics), Pattern Finding: Popular Expression of Transcendent Ideas, Bridges Lecture series, St. Jerome’s University, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
2015     Presenter & panel member, The Varley Art Gallery, Markham, ON.
2015     Presenter & panel member, Multiple Li(v)es of Art/ists & Conference, OCAD University, Toronto, ON.
2015     Artist talk, Knowledge Integration Seminar Series, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
2014     Artist talk, Third Age Learning lecture series, Guelph, ON.
2014     Artist talk, Rodman Hall Arts Centre (Brock University), St. Catherine’s, ON.
2014     Juror, Artist in Education Grant, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto, ON.
2014     Panel member, “The Source: Reconsidering Water Through Contemporary Art”, Rodman Hall Arts Centre, St. Catherine’s, ON.
2013     Panel member, Muslim Women: Now & Then, Kitchener City Hall, Kitchener, ON.
2013     Artist talk, Curator’s Circle, Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON.
2013     Artist talk, Off Topic, Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON.
2012     Panel member, “Past Forward | Present Tense” Exhibition Panel Discussion, Hamilton Artist Inc., Hamilton, ON.
2011     Artist talk/panelist, Shift Symposium: Dialogues of Migration in Contemporary Art, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina
2011     Artist talk, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo, Waterloo
2009    Artist talk, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON.
2007     Panel member, “Images of Faith,” Kitchener Public Library, Kitchener, ON.
2006     Panel member, “Sources & Inspirations,” Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener.
2005     Artist talk, Canadian Heritage Head Office, Toronto, ON.

Selected Residencies
2022     Hafnarborg Artist Residency, The Hafnarfjörður Centre of Culture and Fine Art, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland (upcoming)
2018     Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning, NS.
2017     Canada C3 Expedition (Coast to Coast to Coast), Canada 150 signature project & Canada Council for the Arts
2015     Frans Masereel Centrum, Belgium
2013     Immersion Emergencies and Possible Worlds: Engaging Water as Culture and Resource through Contemporary Art, SSHRC, The Banff Centre, Banff, AB.
2012     Immersion Emergencies and Possible Worlds: Engaging Water as Culture and Resource through Contemporary Art, SSHRC, Niagara Fall, ON.
2003-5 Homer Watson House and Gallery, Kitchener, ON.

Selected Reviews
2019     Aritcheta, Allyson. “[Review] Pattern (dis)Placement by Soheila Esfahani.” Looseleaf, July 16.
2019     Kurd, Nadia. “Profiles on Practice: Soheila K. Esfahani.” Femme Art Review, June 2019.
2018     Bronstein, Noa. “Cultured Pallets: Translating the Global.” Rungh Magazine, V6, NO.1
2018     Beheiry, Valerie. “Portable Culture: Soheila Esfahani.” Visual Arts News, September 6.
2018     Desveaux, Heather. “Considering ‘In-between’ Culture at Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.” The Chronicle Herald, April 23.
2017     Cappuccitti, Jessica. “The Art of Urban Renewal in Windsor-Detroit.“ Canadian Art, Nov. 28.
2017     Gazzola, Bart. “Owning Space: Material Girls.” The Sound STC.
2017     Kim, Ju Hyun. “Power and Globalization.” Imprint, November 15.
2017     “Interstice by Soheila Esfahani.” The Islamic Arts Magazine, October 15.
2017     McKay, Staphanie. “Material Girls: All-Female Art Show Avoids Austere Gallery Tradition.” Saskatoon StarPhoenix, February 2.
2017     “Women Get Spotlight in Art Exhibit at U of S.” CBC news, February 5.
2016     “In-Between by Soheila Esfahani.” The Islamic Arts Magazine, October 1.
2016     Mason, Hailey. “Inspiration from Antiquity.” The Medium, September 12.
2016     Griffin, Kevin. “Art Seen: Works by Artists of Iranian Heritage Explore What It Means to be Caught Between.” Vancouver Sun, July 8.
2016     Dick, Terence. “Material Girls and Feminism.” Akimbo TV, season 1, episode 10.
2016     Samuel, Daniel. “Living in a Material World” The Varsity, February 7.
2015     Griffin, Kevin. “Atoms and Artists: The Spookiness of Being in Two Places at Once.” Vancouver Sun, December 31.
2014     Nokyoung Xayasane, Soheila Esfahani. Encountering Difference. Kitchener: Stonegarden Studios.
2014     Soheila Esfahani. “Photo Essay.” Lalit Kala Contemporary. New Delhi: Lalit Kala Akademi, 2014.
2012     Linsley, Robert. “Iran in the Mirror.” Past Forward \ Present TENSE exhibition catalogue. Hamilton: Hamilton Artist Inc., 2012.
2011      Evolution|Revolution Exhibition Catalogue, Buffalo Arts Studio, Buffalo, NY.
2011      Davis, Geraldine. Art At Work: Corporate Collecting Practices Today. Mississauga: Art Gallery of Mississauga
2008    RBC Canadian Painting Competition 10 years, exhibition catalogue.
2004    RBC Canadian Painting Competition, exhibition catalogue.