Daniela Szeőke / From Tacarigua / 2.17-3.2.2025

From Tacarigua focuses on cultural continuity and reclamation, featuring ceramic figurines inspired by the iconic "Venus" de Tacarigua from Venezuela. These works reinterpret 1000-year-old Indigenous cultural objects, celebrating the resilience and adaptability of pre-Columbian traditions in contemporary contexts.

With walls painted in vinotinto—a rich burgundy hue tied to Venezuelan identity—the exhibition evokes the landscapes, crafts, and garments of my family's homeland. This color also symbolizes the bloodlines connecting Venezuelan-Indigenous ancestry and the sacrifices made to preserve these heritages amid colonization and displacement.

The exhibition highlights the strength of traditions that have traveled far—from Tacarigua to Treaty 7 Territory. The intimate window display invites passersby to reflect on the enduring legacies of diasporic identity, reminding us that cultural heritage can evolve and endure through generations and across borders.

As a first-generation Canadian with Venezuelan-Hungarian roots, my multimedia practice connects ancestral traditions with personal narratives of displacement and cultural reclamation. My recent ceramic reinterpretations of pre-Columbian figurines amplify the voices of my ancestors, who were forcibly assimilated. Despite this tragic history, these traditionally-inspired ceramics exude a playful, almost contemporary cuteness, carrying an endearing, human quality that continues to resonate after a milennium. Shaped by my experience as one of millions displaced by Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis, I explore the legacies of cultural oppression, while finding moments of joy and care amid loss. Living in Mohkinstsis, I create a dialogue between past and future, celebrating cultural symbols that bridge time and place.