Kurdish artist Roda Medhat, based in Toronto, is redefining the use of fabric by transforming it into sculptures. His work examines how traditional West Asian textiles can evolve into various media forms. Through the intersection of digital fabrication and 3D scanning with memory and material, Medhat explores the question, “how do we carry our stories, and what occurs when these narratives are expressed in new, synthetic formats?”
Medhat’s latest solo exhibition, From the Loom, is showcased at Toronto’s Abbozzo Gallery. The exhibition features expansive sculptures alongside a fresh series of textile pieces. While Medhat is partly known for his neon installations, this exhibit also includes several illuminated works that resemble patterned Kurdish rugs, displayed within glass or acrylic.
Medhat draws inspiration from Kurdish children’s books, incorporating images like young boys on horses and interacting with nature into his textiles using an electronic Jacquard machine. This technique underscores the contrast between the preservation of cultural artifacts and their modern reinterpretation. Medhat describes his art as a “distillation of a broader research body,” focusing on the contemporary reinterpretation of archival materials.
A centerpiece of the exhibition, “The Sheep and the Chevrolet,” revisits François Balsan’s controversial 1947 ethnographic work of the same name. Balsan’s narrative juxtaposed idyllic Kurdish life with Western modernism, offering a biased depiction of Kurdish culture. Medhat’s innovative sculpture uses 3D printing to create a large sheep calmly positioned on a small Chevrolet, providing a whimsical reinterpretation.
From the Loom remains open for viewing until May 26. Additional works by the artist can be explored on Instagram.
