Unmoored: Vancouver's Voyage of the Komagata

May 21, 2014 - September 14, 2014

*Please note, this is a one-wall, mini-exhibition.

In 1914 Vancouver was a burgeoning, multicultural port city and a hub for migrants searching for new opportunities. On the cusp of the Great War, Vancouver waged its own internal battle to determine what type of city it wanted to be. A flashpoint was the arrival of the Komagata Maru – a steamship carrying 376 British Indian passengers who were denied entry into Canada. This modest-sized exhibition – guest curated by Naveen Girn – examines the enduring impact that this dramatic event had on Vancouver. Stories, rare artefacts, images and documents provide new insights into how national policies and racial bias shaped the lives of Komagata Maru passengers and South Asian immigrants. Bringing fresh perspectives and meanings to this significant moment of Vancouver’s history provide opportunities for intercultural dialogue and for re-imagining the future of the city.

Financial support for this exhibition is provided by the Canadian Heritage Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Program's Community Anniversaries Grant; the City of Vancouver, the British Columbia Arts Council, and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia. Additional support in media outreach provided by explorASIAN 2014.

This exhibition is part of the 1914-2014 Komagata Maru: Generations, Geographies and Echoes Project.

Exhibition Partners