Roda Medhat Subverts Traditional Kurdish Narratives Into Modern Tactile Experiences
Toronto-based Kurdish artist Roda Medhat pushes the boundaries of fabric into the realm of sculpture, exploring the ways in which traditional West Asian textiles can be translated into various media. As digital fabrication and 3D scanning cross paths with memory and material, Medhat’s practice asks “how we carry our stories, and what happens when those stories are translated into new, synthetic languages?”
The artist’s new solo exhibition, titled From the Loom, fills Toronto’s Abbozzo Gallery with large-scale sculptures in conversation with a new series of textile works. Known in part for his neon installations, the artist also presents several glowing light-based works encased within glass or acrylic, redolent of patterned Kurdish rugs.
“Def” (2026). Photo by Fraser Carr Moore
Several of Medhat’s images and symbols—most prominently young boys riding horses and interacting with nature—are sourced from Kurdish children’s books. These icons are woven directly into the surface of each textile by way of an electronic Jacquard machine, further accentuating the contrast between preserved cultural objects and contemporary reconstruction. In the exhibition’s statement, Medhat shares that his work “functions as a distillation of a wider body of research,” including the contemporary subversion of archival materials.
“The Sheep and the Chevrolet,” an anchoring work within the exhibition, reimagines François Balsan’s problematic 1947 ethnographic work of the same title. Pitting bucolic Kurdish life with Western modernism, Balsan’s off-key travelogue presented a stereotypical, highly subjective view of Kurdish culture. Medhat’s bold sculpture invokes 3D printing to construct a monumental sheep composedly sitting atop a small Chevrolet vehicle, offering a playful point of reconceptualization.
From the Loom is on view through May 26. You can find more from the artist on Instagram.
“The Sheep and the Chevrolet” (2026). Photo by Darren Rigo
Photo by Darren Rigo
“A Rug Falls in Four Frames” (2025). Photo by Fraser Carr Moore
Photo by Darren Rigo
“Boy, Cat, Bike, Mother” (2026). Photo by Fraser Carr Moore
“Jajim 1” (2026). Photo by Fraser Carr Moore
Detail of “Jajim 2” (2026). Photo by Fraser Carr Moore
Photo by Darren Rigo
Photo by Darren Rigo
Detail of “Def” (2026). Photo by Fraser Carr Moore
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🔗 Source: Original Source
📅 Published on: 2026-05-29 23:00:00
🖋️ Author: Jackie Andres – An expert in architectural innovation and design trends.
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Note: This article was reviewed and edited by the archot editorial team to ensure accuracy and quality.
