Bio

Sumaira Tazeen is a Canadian visual artist and artist educator of Pakistani origin. She received her BFA in Miniature painting and Sculpture from the National College of Arts, Lahore in 1996. Since then, her work has been exhibited in established group and solo exhibitions across South Asia, the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, and has been presented to such influential figures as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Rania of Jordan. Her work is part of International public and private art collections. Sumaira’s recent paintings have become a part of ROM’s Global South Asia collection.

Tazeen is the recipient of a number of national and international awards.

Sumaira is continuing her practice in Canada. She has been selected as 2018 Artist in Residence for the City of Kitchener. She is showing in prestigious public art galleries like Art Gallery of Mississauga. She has curated a show at Royal Ontario Museum on South Asian heritage day (2013) and conducted specialized art workshops and courses at Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (2015 & 2022), Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery and University of Waterloo (2018 till date).

Artist Statement

In this video work, I have used birch bark, and the act of biting to express emotions of frustration and anger, a traditional act practiced in parts of South Asia.

During research I realized that the use of birch, and particularly birch biting is also prevalent in the native and indigenous communities of Canada.

I find this similarity between the two distant, and distinctly different, cultures quite fascinating, and want to expand onto this inquiry through my work, i.e to find similarities in expressions and concerns between the two communities, the indigenous women and the South Asian immigrant women.

After moving to Canada, I’ve learnt that First Nation, Métis and Inuit women in Ontario experience domestic violence, assault, homicide and sexual exploitation at significantly greater rates than other women in the province.

Indigenous women and girls are three times more likely than non-Indigenous women to report having been a victim of violent crime; this higher rate of victimization was seen in stranger, acquaintance, and intimate partner violence.

Through my works I want to examine these concerns, and situate the findings in relation to the women of my own community and myself to highlight and create awareness of this critical concern

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