An event with Artist Roo Dhissou
Sun, 26th Nov 2023 13:00 – 15:00
Midlands Art Centre, The English Studio
Book your free ticket here

A qissa (quisse plural) is a tradition of Punjabi oral storytelling with communities which emerged when the local Punjabi people and migrants from the Arab peninsular and contemporary Iran fused.

Join us for an event focussing on Sikh and Punjabi histories and narratives. Performance and talk with artist Roo Dhissou.

This event is a culmination of research (both archival and social) and the presentation of new work carried out by Roo Dhissou. Commissioned by GRAIN Projects, Roo’s research came together through collaboration with communities associated with the Sikh and Punjabi diaspora in Vancouver. The research was based around the history of the Komagata Maru in Vancouver in 1914. Using quisse, Roo recounts her memories of the research trip, presenting us with oral histories of her time spent in Canada with the local gurdwaras, Sikh and Punjabi communities, researchers and activists.

For more information on the project to date you can visit https://grainphotographyhub.co.uk/portfolio-type/roo-dhissou/ and Roo’s Instagram takeover @grain_projects

A GRAIN Projects commission, supported by Arts Council England and Birmingham City University