The premiere Diaspora In Bloom exhibition, Assyrians in the 20th Century and Beyond, opened in June 2019 at the Art Ark Gallery in downtown San Jose’s SoFA district. Independently curated by Akadina Yadegar and Nardin Sarkis, the group show was the first of its kind in creating a modern Assyrian art experience.

Diaspora In Bloom references an Assyrian idiom, “Spring does not occur with one flower alone.” In other words – a movement does not occur with just one person – it takes a field of flowers to bloom in order for Spring to arrive. The exhibition brought together the art of a nation that has been scattered around the globe, and has still found a way to blossom into a movement. 

The exhibition offered a fresh approach to understanding the ancient Assyrian culture and its relevance to Assyrians today. Focusing on the Assyrian experience through the 20th century and beyond, over 30 works of art were assembled in a variety of media including – photography, pottery, painting, video, posters, poplar, and graphic design.

By bringing together so many varied works of art that both celebrate and challenge traditional Assyrian culture, the show explored the multifaceted contemporary Assyrian experience. The universal themes surrounding identity, diaspora, and cultural continuity emerge from the exhibition and pertain to viewers of any background, allowing them to better understand the Assyrian present.

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