August 16, 5:30-6:30
The New Gallery, 208 Centre St S
On August 16th from 5:30-6:30PM in The New Gallery's Main Space, Kuhlein Migue and Sophie Garcia will be talking about Reconfigurations of Home and their own creative practices. Migue and Garcia are both emerging creatives based in Mohkinstsis (Calgary). Sophie Garcia (she/her) is an emerging Filipino curator and educator living and working in Mohkinstsis, Treaty 7 Territory. After spending most of her lifetime in Manila, she later moved to Canada in 2019. As a recent immigrant, she passionately advocates for Filipino/a/x creatives and seeks to amplify diverse voices within the Canadian art scene. This is Garcia's first curatorial project.
Reconfigurations of Home (2024) is a series that investigates personal memories of home and its multifaceted meanings. For many, home signifies a specific place of return each day, while for others, it embodies a profound sense of belonging and affection. Yet, it can also represent an elusive longing, a void awaiting fulfillment. For diasporic bodies, the concept of home often becomes a battleground where the familiar competes with the unfamiliar, as they navigate new environments while yearning for connection to their roots. Kuhlein Migue engages in an autobiographical exploration, probing the essence of home as a member of the Filipino diaspora. In Nanay’s Garden (2024), she entangles memories of her grandmother's garden, a cherished symbol of home, with her present Canadian landscapes. The loose brushstrokes and fragmented forms capture the fluidity and uncertainty of memory and how recollections of home often take shape. This narrative continues in In the Shade of the Chico Tree (2024), where Migue divides and weaves her painted memory landscapes in homage to traditional Philippine weaving practices. This laborious process is a testament to diasporic individuals’ resilient efforts in reconstructing identities and notions of home. While some elements are lost and gained, new creations and byproducts emerge, reflecting the depth and beauty inherent in diasporic experiences. notions of home and belonging become complex for people in the diaspora*. Over the years, the term “diaspora” has become associated with first-generation immigrants (and the generations that follow) who maintain a strong sense of cultural identity while simultaneously adapting to new customs. This series draws on personal experiences to specifically explore narratives of home and belonging shared by Filipinos in Canada.
Read More about Reconfigurations of Home Here
