PhD research creation project selected for Canada Council for the Arts collection

With a name like Azadeh—meaning “free-spirited” in Persian—it’s not surprising to see the creative work of Communication and Culture PhD candidate and interdisciplinary artist Azadeh Monzavi rising to new and exciting heights. Monzavi’s vibrant and compelling textile work entitled Namesake was recently selected as part of the unique Canada Council for the Arts Art Bank collection. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Art Bank offers public access to contemporary Canadian art through three programs: art rental, loans to museums and outreach projects. Namesake is one of 72 new contemporary art acquisitions (external link)  celebrating emerging and established contemporary visual artists from Canada and was recently displayed at St. Catharines City Hall (external link) .

Seeking a need for connection to other makers and artists during the pandemic, which meant moving to St. Catharine’s to live with a friend’s family, Monzavi returned to sewing and crocheting.

“When I lived in Turkey, I remember many of the women in my neighbourhood would come together in the evenings after dinner to drink tea, crochet and share stories. They always invited me to join and that’s how I picked up crochet. In large part, Namesake is a dedication to all women and their stories of struggle, perseverance and wisdom. It also represents my journey as an immigrant, refugee, interdisciplinary artist and researcher, and serves as a visual text that connects me to other women and makers.”

Using textile as feminist method in “Making Material Connections: Creating New Media Works through Craft”

Monzavi’s connection to these women, their stories and way of life would soon be actualized through Namesake as part of her PhD research creation project “Making Material Connections: Creating New Media Works through Craft”. Other pieces that address concepts of home, belonging, identity, and social justice include powerful mixed media installations, including This is Not a Choice, exploring women’s reproductive rights, and Ode to the Feminist Killjoy, honouring feminist scholar Sara Ahmed.

While browsing in a local thrift store, a stack of bright yellow, blue and red fabric caught Monzavi’s eye. “I really like vibrant colours, so I felt this fabric was well-suited for the piece.” Painted on top of the woven fabric in those same colours is Monzavi’s first name “Azadeh” written in Farsi. Other thoughtful stylistic choices, such as using mainly secondhand materials purchased from various charity organizations or the Reuse Program through the Textile Museum of Canada (external link) , were deliberate in an effort to avoid contributing to the growing problem of textile waste and to create art in a more sustainable manner.

“I’m always looking to use secondhand materials in my work. Used materials are embedded with stories that serve as a physical reminder and expression of the intersectional feminist concept of relationality.” The black line threading woven across the work, Monzavi notes, “further represents my story and journey as an immigrant, artist and researcher. I purposefully stopped threading as I got further to the left end of the piece to signify all the future chapters not yet written, and yet, will remain intimately connected to and shaped by relational histories.”

Overwhelming gratitude for unique opportunity and support

"As the recipient of the 2022 Dr. Liss Jeffrey Graduate Award, I must thank the family of Dr. Liss Jeffrey for establishing this award, which has enabled emerging scholars such as myself to realize our goals for over a decade. I’m also very thankful to my PhD supervisors who encouraged me to take advantage of this opportunity; their unwavering support means so much to me. I’m so grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts for purchasing my work as part of Art Bank 50, and to have been selected amongst so many other talented racialized and immigrant contemporary Canadian visual artists.”

Learn more about the Communication and Culture joint graduate program at TMU and York

This unique partnership program combines expertise and opportunities for advanced study of media and cultural technologies, as well as communication politics in practice and theory. The two-year, full- or part-time MA program combines academic and professional work through independent research in theory building, media practice or policy implications. The full-time PhD program provides a thorough grounding in theory and method, and the practices, processes and technologies of contemporary, media-immersed cultures.

Interested in learning more about Monzavi’s work? Follow her on Twitter (external link) .