South Asia Institute

The stories of South Asians and the indigenous peoples of the United States are deeply intertwined at the level of the language. This Native American Heritage Month, we want to highlight this history. We recognize that as a Chicago institution, we operate on the unceded homelands of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations, and an important meeting place for many other indigenous communities. As we tell many migrant stories, it's important to keep in mind the violence committed against the original inhabitants of this land by the colonial state.

Check out how we can be part of your holiday season!

Urdu and Arabic calligraphy have had a strong influence on contemporary art across South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Our current exhibition has a section dedicated to Calligraffiti, one exciting, radical take on the ancient artistic tradition. Come by and see it this weekend, Thurs-Sat, 11 AM - 6 PM!

Our open mics are a space to share your talent, build confidence in a supportive space if you're new to performing, and for all to connect with other artists and appreciators. Our past open mics have been some of our favorite events, and brought people together in beautiful way. All are welcome to sign up, and new performers are given priority. If you're a South Asian performer of any kind looking for a stage, don't be shy! Tickets and the link to sign up are here: https://lnkd.in/g-BWzKHH

You can officially come visit our newest exhibition! The Written Image: A Confluence of Music and Calligraphy is now on view. Come see some highlights of South Asian contemporary calligraphy by artists who push the boundaries of the written word. Stop by Thurs-Sat, 11 AM - 6 PM.

We're rounding out 2024 with another one of our favorite events: South Asians on the Mic! Sign up for our open mic to showcase your talent, whether it's poetry, comedy, dance, or music. Limited performance slots available, priority given to new performers but all are welcome to sign up! Register as a performer here: https://lnkd.in/gisBWcDw Tickets available here: https://lnkd.in/gZJBKf8J

Ismail Gulgee is another one of the prominent artists featured in our exhibition. Come and see his expressive calligraphic works at SAI!

Learn more about the game-changing contemporary artists of South Asia, and experience their powerful work in-person by visiting us at SAI!

This Veterans Day, we're taking a moment to appreciate South Asian soldiers who are unsung heroes of history. Two servicemen who fought in WWI are commemorated in these paintings from the Hundal Collection, by Angeli Sowani: Lance Naik Lala VC (2019) and Sepoy Chatta Singh (2019), in that order.

Thanks to F Newsmagazine for this coverage of our event hosting these legendary musicians!