What Have You Heard About Us?

Churchill Square, Edmonton – 2017

In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, I was honored to participate in What Have You Heard About Us?, a public art exhibition presented by Works International Visual Arts Society in collaboration with ImagiNation Miscellany, a visual arts collective based in Edmonton. Curated by Kristina de Guzman and Fren Mah, the exhibition took place at Churchill Square and showcased diverse voices and narratives.

This project was supported by the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th—a national initiative led by the Edmonton Community Foundation, the Government of Canada, and community leaders across the country. Contributing to this landmark event as a BIPOC artist remains a meaningful and proud milestone in my creative journey.

Churchill Square, Edmonton – 2017
As part of the national celebration for Canada’s 150th anniversary, I had the privilege of participating in What Have You Heard About Us?—a public art exhibition presented by the Works International Visual Arts Society in collaboration with Edmonton-based collective ImagiNation Miscellany. The exhibition was held in the heart of Churchill Square and featured a rich array of voices and stories reflecting the diversity of our communities.

A photograph from the exhibition was featured in the Edmonton Journal, one of the city’s most prominent newspapers—an unexpected and proud moment that brought wider visibility to the project and its message.

It was inspiring to witness the public’s curiosity and engagement as they approached the exhibition space. The tent served as both a literal and symbolic entry point into a collection of diverse stories, identities, and perspectives—inviting people to see, hear, and reflect on voices that are often underrepresented.

It was a powerful experience to see my work displayed in a public space, among a diverse range of voices and stories. Being part of this exhibition as a BIPOC artist allowed me to reflect on identity, representation, and belonging in a national context.

This moment holds a special place in my heart—not only as an artist sharing my work publicly, but as a parent. Both my daughter and son played an important role in the creation of this piece by helping me navigate my colour blindness. They guided me in selecting and confirming the actual colours used in the portrait, making the work truly collaborative and personal. Seeing them stand proudly beside it was a powerful reminder of how art, family, and identity are beautifully intertwined.

While visiting the What Have You Heard About Us? exhibition, a family approached me after recognizing my work. They kindly asked if I would pose for a photo with their child, and I was happy to oblige. Moments later, I captured a photo of the young fan proudly standing beside my self-portrait. It was a touching reminder of the power of connection through art—and how even a single image can spark curiosity, admiration, and a sense of belonging.

One of the key pieces I presented during the exhibition portrayed a classroom scene where all the students were from diverse immigrant backgrounds, while the teaching staff were uniformly white. The only other person of colour in the scene was the custodian—a quiet but powerful reflection on systemic imbalance within institutions like education.

This piece sparked meaningful conversations and received significant attention from visitors. Many were drawn to its honesty and the subtle way it addressed representation, power structures, and the lived experiences of many racialized communities in Canada. It remains one of the most impactful works I’ve shared in a public setting.