The assemblages you see here in the Agua Viva show are partly from other exhibitions but mostly consist of pieces I made during my recent art residency in Brazil this past March. Many characters and forms came together through techniques like carving foam, needle felting, stitching, washing with soup, and other methods I explored during that time.

This work grew during the Agua Viva residency in Chrisitina Lake, shaped by the teachings, shared moments, and inspiration from the Agua Viva community, especially our connection to water as medicine, teacher, and life-force. It explores the guardians of land and nature, imagined as whimsical beings who whisper reminders: that we can be playful with the land and all it holds, but we must also listen to its wisdom, its needs, and the unspoken rules of the game.

I hope the work sparks a sense of play, curiosity, and innocence, essentials for how we live and connect each day.

Rojia Dadashzadeh

Rojia Dadashzadeh