About

Land Acknowledgement

The OCAD's Hindu Students' Association acknowledges the ancestral and traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of Six Nations, the Anishinaabe and the Huron-Wendat nations, who are the original caretakers of the land on which we stand, work and create. We give thanks to those nations who have lived on and protected this territory prior to and against colonization, and we also acknowledge and give thanks to those nations who have lived here since time immemorial on whose territory we now live.

Bharat Darshana was conceptualized to be a body of work that communicates concepts, ideas, and experiences that are emerging in the west as a consequence of belief systems indigenous to the Indus Valley region of South-East Asia occupied by the Harappan civilization; a belief system colloquially known as Hinduism. Art permeates every dimension of the Hindu lifestyle, and has been found on every route of the Hindu Civilization. Hindu art in its purest form is aimed not merely to serve God, and be in communion with Him, but also to express ideas of spirituality and self. Inspired by Hindu thought and ideology, Bharat Darshana will showcase the rich cultural heritage that imbues Hinduism, and celebrate the millennia old traditions from classical dancing to various painting styles. 

In our observation, the western narrative of hinduism has numerous gaps, and our show is an attempt to suffuse those gaps. Drawing inspiration from the Darshana Poster exhibit, we presented a decolonized perspective of Hindu values and principles, and educated the community about the essence of our culture, its offerings and numerous contributions to the world. 

As we represent the largest art and design school in Canada, Bharat Darshana exhibited an artistic expression of spirituality and tradition, while also exploring the future through innovations in Hindu thought as it relates to society, religion and science. Furthermore, OCAD's Hindu Students' Association used Bharat Darshana as an opportunity to foster a community, and created a platform for local emerging Hindu artists in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).