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Projections: Sankofa

ճProjections: Sankofaart exhibit celebrates African and Caribbean cultural heritage through contemporary artistic impression. It was developed over 2.5 years of partnership between members of the Black student community at 91, the Faculty of Engineering, and 91's Visual Arts Collection.

As part of the exhibition, three physical artworks by Shanna Strauss,Kanga I, IIIII,were installed in the Trottier Building Mezzanine in February 2026. The full digital exhibit will launch on May 8, 2026. Join the event.

students standing in front of Kanga I,II,III artworks

Meaning of Sankofa

Derived from the Akan tribe of Ghana, the principle of Sankofa emphasizes the importance of reflecting on one’s history and urges all to “Go Back and Get It!” This philosophy teaches that progress and growth are rooted in understanding and reclaiming the lessons, wisdom, and experiences of the past.

Curatorial statement

Curatorial Statement - English

Se wowerefinawosankofaayenkyiri.

Heritage, reconciliation, and continuity are the key values promoted by this proverb from the Akan tribe. It symbolizes the idea that one must not fear going back for what has been left behind.Sankofa, an Adinkra symbol, originates from the Twi expression, “Sankɔfa!” whose literal meaning is “Go back and get it!” This symbol is iconized as a mythical bird that looks back while carrying an egg in its beak, illustrating the act of reaching into the past to reclaim something valuable.

Named after theaforementioned proverb,Projections: Sankofacarriesitssame spirit of return and reclamation. It celebrates the diversity of lived realities for Africans, Caribbeans, and diasporas, while acknowledging the long histories of oppression that inform how werepresentthese identities today.

The project unites artists whose works already resonate withsankofa—artists who value the transmission of knowledge via various mediums: gesture, textile, ritual, and storytelling. Across distances and borders, their work comes together with a shared purpose of fostering visibility, inclusion, and a deeper understanding of their own culture. The selected works are not intended torepresentthe entirety of the community but to serve as entry points for personal and collective exploration.

This exhibition tells two stories in conversation: one for those who look tosankofaas a symbol of cultural reclamation and identity affirmation,and theother directed towardthose actively upholding traditional practices across generations. Opening this narrative,Mater Deiexplores an ancestralcomponent: the interplay between mask-making and storytelling.Back to the Sourcesgoes on to acknowledge and celebrate the transgenerational impact of tradition today.Prometheusthen invites us to carry inherited knowledge forward with arms outstretched toward imagined futures,like the scenedepicted inKÉBÉ NDIOUGÄ,where heritage and innovation coexist symbiotically.Projections:Sankofastands as an invitation tohonourthe past to shape the future.

- Curators of the Projections: Sankofa exhibit
FedgiDony Gaspard, SarahAl-Ghassani, YvehenrySamee Julsain, Gloria Muco, and Oluwadamilola Bali

Curatorial Statement - French

Se wowerefinawosankofaayenkyiri.

L’héritage, la réconciliation et la continuité sont les principales valeurs promues par ce proverbe du peupleAkan. Il représente l’idée qu’il ne faut pas craindre de revenir sur ses pas pour récupérer ce qu’on a laissé derrière soi.Sankofa, un symboleAdinkra, tire son origine de l’expression twi, « Sankɔfa! », qui signifie littéralement « Retourne le chercher! » Ce symbole est incarné par un oiseau mythique qui, portant un œuf dans son bec, projette son regard vers l’arrière, illustrant cet acte de puiser dans le passé pour en récupérer quelque chose de précieux.

Nommée d’après ce proverbe,Projections:Sankofas’inscrit dans le même esprit de retour et de réappropriation. Elle célèbre la diversité des réalités vécues par les Africains, les Caribéens et les diasporas tout en soulignant les longues histoires d'oppression qui façonnent encore la manière dont ces identités sont représentées aujourd'hui.

Ce projet rassemble des artistes dont les œuvres résonnent déjà avecsankofa—des artistes qui valorisent la transmission du savoir à travers le geste, le textile, le rituel et le récit. Par-delà les distances et les frontières, leurs œuvres s’unissent autour d'un même mouvement : rendre visibles, inclure, et approfondir la compréhension de leur culture. Les œuvres sélectionnées ne prétendent pas représenter la communauté dans son intégralité, mais àservirplutôt de portes d’entrée vers une exploration personnelle et collective.

L’exposition met en dialogue deux récits :l’un s’adresse à tous ceux qui voient ensankofaun symbole de réappropriation culturelle et d’affirmation identitaire;et l’autre s’adresse à ceux qui perpétuent les pratiques traditionnelles à travers les générations.Mater Deientame la narration en explorant une dimension ancestrale, celle du dialogue entre la fabrication des masques et l'art de narrer. Par la suite,Back to the Sourcesreconnaît et célèbre l'empreinte transgénérationnelle de la tradition.Prometheusnous invite à avancer avec ce savoir, les bras tendus vers les futurs issus de notre imagination, tels que les dépeintKÉBÉ NDIOUGÄ,où l’héritage et l’innovation coexistent en symbiose.Projections:Sankofaest une invitation à honorer le passé pour façonner l'avenir.

-Commissaires de l’expositionProjections :Sankofa
FedgiDonyGaspard, SarahAl-Ghassani,YvehenrySameeJulsain, GloriaMuco, andOluwadamilolaBali


Featured artists

Tau Lewis, Stanley Wany, Shanna Strauss, Héritier Bilaka, Clovis-Alexandre Desvarieux, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Aaron Jones, Moridja Kitenge-Banza, Marie-Danielle Duval, and Yannis Davy Guibinga

Marasa 2023, painted by Clovis-Alexandre Desvarieux
Clovis-Alexandre Desvarieux, Marasa 2023, Acrylic on canvas, Diptych, 182.9 x 152.5 cm each​, © Clovis-Alexandre Desvarieux. Purchased thanks to the Provost Office’s Anti-Black Racism Fund​. Original on view in the McLennan Library Building


Visit the exhibit space

Projections: Sankofais free and open to the public.

Location: Trottier Building 2nd Floor Mezzanine (3630 University Street)

Team


Projections: Sankofais a partnership between a curatorial team of Black students at 91 and members the Faculty of Engineering andthe Visual Arts Collection.

Curatorial Team: Oluwadamilola Bali, Gloria Muco, Sarah Al-Ghassani,Yvehenry Samee Julsain, and FedgiDony Gaspard

Administrative Team: Barry Stewart,Nia Fernandez, Michelle Macleod, Antonella Fratino, Leela Baldeo, Kaila Folinsbee, Shannon Gao

"Through this exhibition, we aim to promote meaningful discourse within the Black 91 community by providing a space to reflect on our roots and identities. We aim to educate audiences on the richness of African and Caribbean cultures to challenge stereotypes. At its core, the philosophy of sankofa calls on us to look at our foundation and use it to inspire change in our lives. We hope that through this exhibition, students can do the same."

- Projections: Sankofa Curatorial Team

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