Sarnia painter addresses situation in Gaza in show at Lawrence House

Painter Rabia Rizvi says she wants her show at Sarnia’s Lawrence House Centre for the Arts to inspire others to research what’s happening in Gaza and speak out. Her solo exhibition at the downtown arts centre, We Bear Witness 2, runs through July 31. “It’s a social political show,” based on what is happening in [...]

Article content Painter Rabia Rizvi says she wants her show at Sarnia’s Lawrence House Centre for the Arts to inspire others to research what’s happening in Gaza and speak out. Her solo exhibition at the downtown arts centre, We Bear Witness 2, runs through July 31. Recommended Videos “It’s a social political show,” based on what is happening in Gaza, Palestine, Rizvi said.

In 2023, Hamas killed some 1,200 people in Israel, and took another 250 hostage, including several Canadian citizens, and since the start of the Israeli war in Gaza that followed, the Gaza health ministry says more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory. Rizvi said she hopes viewers of the art exhibition will go on to research the history of Gaza and what is happening there now. “They should raise their voice against the atrocity,” she said.

“Our leaders are not doing anything,” Rizvi said. “I want people to focus on what’s going on.” Rizvi is from Pakistan where she graduated from the National College of Arts.

Her spouse’s employment brought them to Sarnia 17 years ago. Paintings in the exhibition are in the traditional Persian and Mughal miniature style. The “courtly” style of painting goes back to the 15th century in Persia and was brought by the Mughals to India.

The miniature paintings traditionally are war and hunting scenes, as well as portraits, Rizvi said. One of the pieces, titled BoP Goes the Weasels, portrays the board of peace U.S. President Donald Trump assembled for Gaza and includes a two-headed figure representing Israel and U.S., Rizvi said. With it are pieces based on the see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil monkeys.

“These are the leaders,” she said. “They’re sitting on the world . . . and they’re saying we’re not going to see the evil going on around us.

We’re not going to hear the evil going on around us and we’re not going to speak about the evil.” Rizvi has also entered work in group shows at the Lawrence House and had a solo shows several years ago at Gallery in the Grove.