Bahōn (বাহন) explores philosophies of community structure, embedded knowledge, establishing identity, and the core value of caring for roots. “বাহন” is a Bengali word; there is no single English word to convey its meaning. In general: a vehicle for transport; in allegory: a medium who carries; in mythology and spirituality: a mount that forms a complex psychological concept in Hindu mythology.

My research applies auto-ethnographic artistic methods in which I serve as a bahōn for carrying tradition and cultural heritage. This research explores the infrastructures of care and belonging, where both contemporary and traditional materials serve as a visual story. Through my investigations, I have come to understand that a sense of belonging is maintained through repetition, collective effort, and recognition. It is a continuous practice rather than a singular achievement.

The exhibition raises several questions: How has community identity endured in a foreign land? What are the concealed strengths that play a pivotal role in fostering relationships within and outside the community? What is the significance of preserving roots, reinforcing community bonds, and helping future generations understand their heritage as they grow up in Canada? How do artistic practices that include folk art, symbolism, sculptural forms, and raw materials become integral to cultural practices? Lastly, the exhibition articulates confidence and poise in the construction of collective strength as both a material process and a spiritual and emotional act that links community, memory, and the formation of belonging.

Atrayee, an interdisciplinary artist born in India and now based in Canada, explores themes of life, relationships, belonging, memory, and her connection to land, culture, and community. She draws inspiration from her motherland, the Treaty Six territories, and the ancestral homeland. Her research investigates community dynamics, cultural landscapes, and migratory experiences—encompassing human and material journeys, as well as notions of presence and absence. Her work employs a range of media, including sculpture, photography, printmaking, drawing, video, sound, writing, and ethnography, and often fosters reciprocal relationships through listening and storytelling that highlight rawness, unfinishedness, and fundamental aspects. She seeks to create dialogue among herself, her materials, methodologies, and viewers. Collaborating with communities across diverse landscapes strengthens her art practice.

MFA Thesis Exhibition: Bahōn (বাহন)

Date: Wednesday, September 9 - Friday, September 19, 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Saturday
Location: Gordon Snelgrove Gallery

Public Reception

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Gordon Snelgrove Gallery

Please join us for a public reception in celebration of the exhibition. Light refreshments provided.