Residency from September 3rd 2024 until November 1st 2024
At Ada X
How can we conceptualize a communal space that nurtures connection and healing in a hopeful future, especially when confronting the harsh realities of the present?
“The Evaporated Tears of Sand Roses” is a poetic exploration of grief and transformation, reflecting the shared experiences of the Southwest Asia and North African (SWANA) diaspora. The installation aims to create a nurturing space for community, inviting individuals to connect through their collective trauma and healing. Sand roses, symbolizing beauty born from desolation, echo the intertwined stories of sorrow and resilience. During their residency at Ada X, Rihab Essayh will use our spaces and equipment to craft poetry that will serve as a soundscape for this work, which will later be exhibited at the Visual Arts Center of Clarington in Bowmanville, Ontario.
Sand roses form through the evaporation of water and moisture, drawing from the sediments of desert landscapes—salt, minerals, and sand—all interconnected through this transformative process. What begins as barren sand and rock evolves into something strikingly beautiful, much like the experiences of the SWANA diaspora. This reseach speaks to shared tears and collective trauma, highlighting moments of pain. Yet it is the process of evaporation that stands out; it symbolizes the catalyst for change and the collective support that enables us to heal and grieve together, forming the foundation of community.
Photo by Jack McCombe of Rihab Essayh’s solo exhibition, of longing and song birds, at Union Gallery, Kingston (2022).