On April 8th, the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) will host Where We Belong: Artists in the Archive, a day-long symposium bringing together artists, activists, academics, and archivists to explore ways to challenge the systematic erasure of stories of marginalized communities in America.

The symposium will be held at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and will premiere works from five artists - musicians, visual artists, and dancers - who have engaged SAADA’s archives to find inspiration from overlooked histories of South Asians in the US.

This cohort includes Rudresh Mahanthappa, Chitra Ganesh, Chiraag Bhakta, Joti Singh, and Zain Alam. Their year-long discovery process culminates with a presentation of works-in-progress, discussions of art and archives as activism, and other interactive workshops.

Coffee and Lunch will be provided to registered attendees.

About the Artists

Rudresh Mahanthappa is an award-winning saxophonist and composer who hybridizes progressive jazz and South Indian classical music in a fluid and forward-looking form reflecting his own experiences as a second-generation South Asian American.

Chiraag Bhakta is an innovative graphic designer and visual artist who works in a variety of mediums including printmaking, collage, photography, and found object.

Joti Singh is trained in both South Asian and West African dance and is the Artistic Director of Duniya Dance and Drum Company whose previous work includes “Half and Halves,” exploring the history of Punjabi-Mexican communities in California.

Chitra Ganesh is a Brooklyn based visual artist who is widely recognized for her experimental use of comics, installation, and archives to excavate narratives typically absent from canons of history and art.

Zain Alam is a storyteller and musician who explores the sonic space between Hindustani music and indie rock as a natural extension to a life lived across borders. 

About SAAD

SAAD is the South Asian American Digital Archive the only organization that digitally documents, preserves, and shares stories of South Asian Americans, giving voice to overlooked histories and creating a more inclusive society.

Where We Belong: Artists in the Archive has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage