Expanding upon the Research
ENGAGING in methodological innovation.
EMPOWERING people with awareness for advocacy.
EVOLVING our understanding of the shifting linguistic landscapes of our education systems.
Arts-based Approach to Research
The project aims to use AI-powered painting feature and fine arts to explore and express the newcomer experience in Canada. Maria Naqvi and Wing Yan Chan are two artists from Toronto who assisted the research team in developing an arts-based approach to our studies.
See some of what participants in the Connecting Resilience to Places and Space in Adopted Lands Studies made during data collection in March 2023.
AI Workshop
Can AI translate the newcomer experience? We used DALL-E outpainting feature to expand participant photos to capture a reality that blends their past and hopes for the future.
Maps Workshop
Walk from Negele, Ethiopia to Calgary, Alberta in 10 steps or less. We printed maps for each family. The maps were then grouped into three and overlapped over one large Calgary map. Participants used footprint stamps with assigned colours to visually represent their journey.
Collage Workshop
The layers of identity. Using collaging to convey the unique and complex multifaceted layers of the newcomer identity. Participants included images and textures that represent their cultural background, interests and hobbies, family and relationships, and more.
Airplane Workshop
We asked participants to write down their feelings about their greatest fears moving to Canada. Then they folded them up into paper airplanes and let them fly!
Windows Workshop
Newcomer families were asked to paint three items that best represent their family which they could display in their painted window. These windows were later collected to create a whole apartment building piece.
Potato Workshop
Making your mark using potatoes. The newcomers participated in an interactive, meditative, activity that involved using cutout potato stamps to create a collaborative mural.
The Team
Meet the talented team of faculty, research assistants, and artists who collaborated on a groundbreaking project that analysed the newcomer experiences in Canada through a visual arts lens. This innovative research approach included elements of Artificial Intelligence and Art Therapy to communicate the challenges faced by Newcomers in Canada. Their project offers fresh insights into the potential of the arts to enrich our understanding of complex social issues.
Maria Naqvi
Maria Naqvi is a Toronto-based art director and graduate of the OCADU Advertising program. She has been the recipient of multiple awards like the OCADU medal and D&AD NewBlood Portfolio feature for her innovative design solutions that challenge the status quo. She believes the future of Advertising relies on new perspectives, diversity, and inclusion.
Wing Yan Chan
Wing is a Toronto based creative and graduate of the OCADU Advertising Program. She applies design and communication skills in mentorship programs and leadership positions, such as organizing the graduate show. She believes these skills give her the ability to amplify voices and educate future generations.