This exhibition is a tribute to Riaz Mehmood’s homeland in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In video, photography, painting and textile, Mehmood present moments of memory, joy, syncretism and resilience through an exploration of poetry, song, dance and the landscape. Countering deep-rooted and persistent colonial stereotypes, Ghazal—Songs for Home is a celebration of Pashtun culture and identity in all its complexity and beauty.

Organized by the Art Gallery of Alberta and curated by Danielle Siemens. October 23, 2022 - January 29, 2023. The RBC New Works Gallery features new artworks by Alberta artists and continues the Art Gallery of Alberta’s tradition of supporting and promoting Alberta artists.

Downloadable curatorial essay by Danielle Siemens: Ghazal - Songs for Home.

Images: Photography by Charles Cousins, courtesy of the Art Gallery of Alberta, 2022.