DYNAMIC DIASPORAS, BY DOAA MAGDY
Curated and created by Doaa Magdy, “Dynamic Diasporas” is presented by VMF Winter Arts and community partner BC Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS).
The project tells the story of roughly 800 educated and skilled Black men and women who came to the Colony of British Columbia in 1858 at the invitation of its governor, Sir James Douglas, leaving behind an increasingly racist and divisive America.
Through visual storytelling and dance, Dynamic Diasporas introduces the public to their stories of determination, achievements, and endurance. This is an opportunity to learn about BC’s Black pioneers, while rebuilding connection and empathy that has been fractured as a result of the past two years of the pandemic.
Through minimal text, archival images, and corporeal interpretation of Black empowerment, Dynamic Diasporas brings BC's archives of this history to life to create memorable experiences and amplify Black joy.
You can find the Dynamic Diasporas project on display at the VMF Winter Arts Hub until Feb 27, 2022.
To increase awareness and accessibility to those unable to attend in person, we have all the info on our webpage too: www.winterartsfest.com/dynamic-diasporas.
Don’t miss the Dynamic Diasporas dance performance on the last day of VMF Winter Arts at the Winter Arts Hub (Sunday, Feb 27, 3:00pm - 4:00pm)!
We asked a few questions to Doaa to learn more about the project and the inspiration behind it.
Tell us more about Dynamic Diasporas. What inspired you when creating an experience like this?
The research project was quite long, about 4 months. It’s really heartbreaking how hard it is to find content that actually helps my research on BC Black history.
I also made sure to focus on Black empowerment, because I wanted to emphasize that our history is beyond enslavement and facing racism.
Another aspect that was important to me was amplifying Black joy but also look at the settlers' history and see who actually contributed in BC Black history without actively oppressing Indigenous peoples.
Those were the major elements that made me decide which Black pioneers to pick and I made my best to choose pioneers from different eras.
What is the best way for people to enjoy your piece?
The project is divided into two parts: an exhibition that includes archival content for BC Black history and a live performance on February 27.
For the exhibition part, there will be archival content and people will be able to use their phone to scan a QR code that will take them to the Digital Museum of the BC Black History Awareness Society.
I wanted this project to be accessible to everyone, so I thought of two aspects.
First, for people who don’t own a cellphone to scan the QR code, under each archival picture there will be a brief description of who the black pioneers are. Secondly, I made sure that the description is very linguistically accessible to everyone.
For the dance part, people should expect great vibes and energy!
It will include elements of visual storytelling to narrate BC Black history that’s understudied and overlooked.
“I feel that VMF is getting bigger and bigger by the year, going beyond murals to include different forms of art and that’s something I really like about it. Also, I see how the VMF team is working really hard to support BIPoC artists and for me it’s one of the biggest highlights of the festival.
Honestly I didn’t expect that an exhibition style would be approved as part of the VMF Winter Arts. My main goal is to bring the archives to life instead of collecting dust in the libraries, so I am very excited for this opportunity.”
— Doaa Magdy
You can read more about Dynamic Diasporas on Daily Hive Vancouver.
DOAA MAGDY
Doaa Magdy curated and created the Dynamic Diasporas project.
Doaa is Nubian Afro-Indigenous interdisciplinary artist living on the unceded stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As a researcher and aspiring horror film director, Doaa works in documentary filmmaking, dance, photography along with her latest endeavours to integrate digital spaces as a tool to amplify BIPOC narratives that highlight racial and social injustices faced by BIPOC individuals. She is currently pursuing her second M.A. degree at SFU’s School of Contemporary Arts.
