I have known Maryam Babaei all my life. We grew up in the same neighbourhood in Tehran, immigrated to Canada at roughly the same time, and went to the same university. She studied English Literature and Art History at UBC and went on to earn her MSc in Literature and Modernity at the University of Edinburgh, UK. We reconnected in late 2022 when I was organizing an exhibition at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre featuring the works of 17 local visual artists. At the time, Maryam was working as a senior writer at a medical research organization and was receptive to the idea of a “side activity” closer to her own field. Little did she know that an invitation to help develop one exhibition’s concept and didactic material would quickly turn into a second full-time job!
The success of that project led to the founding of VIVA Alliance, a non-profit organization aiming to serve as an accessible and inclusive platform for BC-based visual artists to showcase their work, engage with a diverse audience base, and enhance their contribution to BC’s diverse artistic landscape. VIVA began its work with a series of exhibitions, artist talks, and workshops. Over the past two years, this young organization has been growing rapidly, with an expanding list of culturally diverse members and collaborators. This month, we are launching Medias Res Gallery, our programming hub and main exhibition space, with a solo exhibition by internationally renowned artist Hangama Amiri, which Maryam is curating.
I credit the growth of VIVA in large part to Maryam’s indispensable role in the development of our programming. It’s a thrill to watch her varied professional experience converge into a well-rounded curatorial approach that benefits from her extensive knowledge of art history, trenchant critical lens, collaborative instinct of a seasoned project manager, and purposeful and illustrative prose of a professional writer.
-Written by Shadi Shadbahr, founder and Director, VIVA Alliance
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Which neighbourhood are you in?
I live in the Shipyards District, North Vancouver, a couple of blocks away from Lonsdale Quay.
What do you do?
I wear a couple of hats these days. I work as a curator at VIVA Alliance and a senior writer at a UBC-affiliated medical research organization. Research and interpretation in two different fields leave little free time but make for a productive and satisfying balance between precision and creativity. Curating has definitely been a welcome departure from mostly solitary work; it is such a pleasure to meet with the artists, learn from them, understand their process, and collaborate on showcasing their work.
What are you currently working on?
This week, the VIVA team and I are putting the finishing touches on an upcoming exhibition by brilliant artist Hangama Amiri, who works predominantly with textiles to explore ideas of identity and belonging while she sheds light on the struggles of Afghan women under Taliban’s rule. Henna Night/Shabeh Kheena II will be on view at Medias Res Gallery from March 27 to May 2, 2025.
I am also starting to develop the concept for the Third Annual VIVA Exhibition, a juried group exhibition featuring the works of local visual artists. This exhibition is set to open in September 2025 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre.
Additionally, I am a part of the curatorial team for an upcoming group exhibition titled Of Wounds and Songs, which is a joint project by Two Rivers Gallery and VIVA Alliance. This exhibition will be on view at Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George from May 9, 2025, to July 13, 2025.
Where can we find your work?
You can find out more about our upcoming events through our website and/or Instagram page.
