Letter Writing Workshop & Artist Talk with Whyishnave Suthagar

Join Mississauga-based Sri Lankan Canadian artist Whyishnave Suthagar for a special artist talk, exhibition tour, and participatory letter-writing workshop in her current exhibition நினைவு | Ninaivu—What We Remember, What We Release at the Art Gallery of Mississauga.

Presented alongside Shaheer Zazai’s exhibition A Petal for a Petal, A Deed for a Deed--The Garden We Could Have Been, these concurrent exhibitions explore cultural memory, migration, and the ways artistic traditions can create space for healing and reflection.

In Ninaivu, Suthagar reflects on intergenerational experiences within the Eelam Tamil diaspora. Her installation is grounded in the lived experiences and affective memories of Tamil families, featuring engraved letters based on exchanges between parents and children across generations. At the heart of the exhibition is a glowing wall piece inspired by traditional kolams—intricate, ephemeral drawings used in Sri Lankan Tamil celebrations that symbolize care, welcome, and renewal.

The event will begin with a short artist talk and guided discussion with Whyishnave about the themes and processes behind her work. Participants will then be invited to contribute to an ongoing letter-writing project inspired by the exhibition.

During the workshop, attendees are welcome to write a personal letter in any language reflecting on their own experiences of migration, belonging, intergenerational relationships, or finding a place to call home. Participants may choose to write as a parent, child, or family member, reflecting on memory, distance, inheritance, and connection.

This workshop offers a quiet and thoughtful space for reflection, storytelling, and community dialogue through writing.

All materials will be provided. No writing experience is necessary.

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Host or Publisher Art Gallery of Mississauga