The Professor’s Desk: In Conversation

Join us for the art exhibit opening reception of the Professor’s Desk: In Conversation on May 7 at the Whippersnapper Gallery. The exhibit will be displayed at the gallery from May 4-31.

The Professor’s Desk is a photo-based project by Zinnia Naqvi that combines archival materials and ephemera from the past 20 years of the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance (ACLA). This project looks particularly at four cases of discrimination on or relating to Canadian universities; the W5 Campus Giveaway TV Special from 1979, Professor Kin-Yip Chun’s case of racial discrimination against the University of Toronto, MacLean Magazine’s “Too Asian” article from 2010, and current barriers facing international students in Canada. Interweaving personal experiences, this artist talk connects this archival research to our ongoing struggles.

This project was developed through Mayworks’ Labour Arts Catalyst program in partnership with Asian Canadian Labour Alliance with the support of OPIRG Toronto.

Can’t make it to the opening? On May 24, 2023 join artist Zinnia Naqvi, Professor Kin-Yip Chun, and organizer Chris Ramsaroop for a talk on the struggles for justice that have made space for Black, Indigenous, and racialized workers within academic institutions. Register HERE.

Learn more about the Mayworks Labour Arts Catalyst.