PROBLEM
INSIGHT
CONTEXT
CONCEPT
Participants were invited to express their resettlement experiences using various artistic mediums, including painting, storytelling, and digital art. Guided by prompts that encouraged them to reflect on their hometowns, memories, and aspirations, participants created evocative artworks that captured the essence of their journey. These creations were then further enhanced and reimagined through the use of AI’s text-to-image technologies. The participants descriptions of their homes were used as prompts and transformed into vibrant artworks, capturing the essence of their stories in vivid detail.
The "Connecting Resilience" project emerged from the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Recognizing the limitations of conventional research methods in capturing the emotional depth and cultural nuances of this journey, the project sought to engage immigrants in a more creative and expressive manner. As such, artistic workshops were conducted, harnessing the power of art and AI to explore the resettlement experience of newcomers.
The resettlement experience for immigrants can be complex and multifaceted, often challenging to capture through traditional research methods alone. The need to delve deeper into the nuances of this experience led to the exploration of artistic approaches that could provide richer insights.
The "Connecting Resilience" project demonstrated the transformative power of art and technology in fostering empathy, understanding, and connection within immigrant communities. By providing a platform for newcomers to share their stories in a way that transcended language barriers and cultural differences, the project facilitated meaningful dialogue and fostered a sense of belonging and community. The resulting artworks, showcased in both physical (exhibited at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary) and virtual galleries (link below), served as poignant reminders of the resilience, courage, and diversity of immigrant experiences, bridging cultures and inspiring empathy in viewers.
A.I. + CENTRE FOR NEWCOMERS
A.I.
VIRTUAL GALLERY