CATALYST: Art as Activism - A Heart in Exile
A Heart in Exile brings together three bodies of work that trace the inner landscape of migration; its fractures, its expansions, and its quiet, unresolvable tensions.
About CATALYST: Art as Activism - A Heart in Exile
| 31st Jan 2026 to 29th Mar 2026 | |
| Wednesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm | |
|
Summerhall 1 Summerhall , Edinburgh South EH9 1PL |
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| This is a free event | |
| Visit the event website here |
Moving from Iran to the UK meant stepping into a life shaped by both possibility and loss, and these works sit at the point where those two forces meet. The exhibition follows the emotional rhythm of displacement: the initial rupture of being pushed from a homeland that refuses to hold you; the slow, surprising softening that comes with building a life elsewhere; and the moments when the sharpness returns, reminding you that exile is not a single event but an ongoing condition.
Through clay, sound, and intimate sculptural forms, the works record the shifting nature of belonging. They act as a way of facing oneself honestly; acknowledging the grief, the gratitude, and the strange beauty of rebuilding identity in a new place.
About the Artist
“I am an Iranian visual artist, living in the UK since 2021. For 29 years, I lived under a system that tried to erase my identity, both as a member of a religious minority denied basic rights in Iran and as a woman forced to follow strict laws controlling my body and choices. Even before leaving Iran, I felt like I didn’t belong. That feeling only became more complicated after moving to the UK.
Art helps me process these experiences. My work explores displacement, isolation, memory, and the traditions that shape us. While ceramics is my main material, I also use wood, sound, and performance. Clay, in particular, is important to me; it comes from the earth, making it universal and accessible. The slow process of hand-building mirrors the time it takes to work through emotions, while its fragility reflects the uncertainty of belonging.
At its core, my work is about storytelling and often mixes personal stories with history and culture. Through sculpture, installation, and participatory projects, I want to start conversations about things often overlooked. In a time of division, I believe art can bring people together, create understanding, and help us imagine a world where everyone has a place.”
– Taraneh Dana
CATALYST: Art as Activism
Summerhall arts presents a season of four solo exhibitions by artists whose work advocates for social, political, environmental, or cultural change.
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