Sabrina’s Story

My earliest memories at the WAG are taking art classes at WAG Studio. I distinctly recall making a large scale collaborative drawing about the 1997 flood and talking about the impact of the “flood of the century.”

I remember taking a tour with my school when I was about nine or ten to see an exhibition of Inuit sculpture, and being drawn in by the delicately formed shapes and the colours of the stone.

Growing up there was always traditional Indian art in my home and in my grandparents’ house. In university, I began to notice more and more the stark categories of “Western” and “non-Western” art, leaving little room to explore the complexities of intersecting identities, and the effects of colonization and migration on our lives. This led to my interest in contemporary South Asian artists who are using their practices to speak to broader societal and political issues that impact all of us.

I never felt truly represented in an art gallery. This is why Vision Exchange is so exciting for me! Each artist brings their own history and viewpoint to their work, offering an opportunity to look at issues from fresh perspectives and encouraging real dialogue between communities.

I researched one of the featured artists, Sarindar Dhaliwal, in my undergraduate studies, through the pages of books and exhibition catalogues. It’s amazing to finally experience her artwork in person!

Seeing myself, my community, and my culture reflected in a major art gallery like the WAG is affirming. During these divisive times, it is more important than ever to have spaces where our differences are not just welcomed, but celebrated.

My hope is for many more exhibitions in the future that will bring underrepresented communities into the WAG. Your donation to the WAG will make this possible.


-Sabrina Sethi is a University of Winnipeg graduate student and curator of Scottish and Indian descent. Earlier this year, Sabrina joined the WAG’s Advisory Committee for Vision Exchange.