VIVA Alliance, 401-353 Railway Street, Vancouver, BC (2026)

08/26/2026

⟶ Meet the Participating Artists of the 4th Annual VIVA Exhibition.

𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹 is an artist whose work is presented in 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺, connecting to the exhibition’s interest in precarity, pressure, and the forces that act upon and shape us.

His practice considers how social, cultural, religious, and personal forces act upon us, asking how we bend and perform in response to what we are asked to carry. His work approaches the body as a site of accumulated pressure and psychological tension, suspended between individual and collective states.

In 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺, Stovall’s work creates space for a pause—a deliberate halt within these pressures that opens onto self-examination and a deeper awareness of the forces that form us.

𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙎𝙏𝙄𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙔 VIVA Alliance’s 4th Annual Exhibition September 9–16, 2026 Opening Reception: September 9, 6:00–9:00PM Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, Vancouver
Free and open to the public

Presented by VIVA Alliance in partnership with The Roundhouse.

08/25/2026

⟶ Meet the Participating Artists of the 4th Annual VIVA Exhibition.

Keeyan Suazo is a Filipino-Canadian multidisciplinary artist whose work is presented in 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺, connecting to the exhibition’s interest in precarity and the unstable conditions through which meaning is contested, redirected, and transformed.

His practice explores transformation, transposition, and translation through semiotics and symbolism. Rooted in language—its capacities and limitations.

In 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺, Suazo’s works attest to a sense of agency, negotiating with, questioning, and at times confronting inherited phrases and the meanings they produce.

𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 VIVA Alliance’s 4th Annual Exhibition September 9–16, 2026 Opening Reception: September 9, 6:00–9:00 PM Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, Vancouver

Presented by VIVA Alliance in partnership with The Roundhouse and it is free and open to the public.

08/15/2026

𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙎𝙏𝙄𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙔
 VIVA Alliance’s 4th Annual Juried Exhibition 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟗–𝟏𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre

VIVA Alliance is pleased to present 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮, our 4th Annual Juried Exhibition, presented in partnership with the Roundhouse (Roundhouse CC )

Bringing together artists whose works engage with states of formation, instability, adaptation, and transformation, 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 considers how bodies, materials, environments, and ways of being are continually reshaped in response to the inherent pressures and conditions of contemporary life.

Featured in this year’s exhibition poster is 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗮𝘇𝗼’𝘀 (Keeyan S ) 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣-𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙮 (𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙡), a work that opens a compelling entry point into questions of transformation and shifting relationships between bodies and systems.

𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟗 | 𝟔–𝟗 𝐏𝐌 Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, BC

Curated by Shadi Shadbahr & Anahita Ranjbar
Shadi Shadbahr شادی شادبهر Anahita R  𝗝𝘂𝗿𝘆: 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗶, 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗼𝘁

Participating artists and works will be introduced in the coming weeks.

08/12/2026

𝑨𝒔 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅.

𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 is an original English-language absurd play-within-a-half-musical, inspired by Nezami Ganjavi’s twelfth-century romantic epic, Khosrow & Shirin.

Written and directed by Majid Tafreshi Original Music and Music Direction by Madmazel Madmazel
 Performed by:
Sara Poursorkh Sara Poursorkh
Nikta Ghazi nikta.is.here
Steve Amazzal Steve Galid Amazzal ⴳⴰⵍⵉⴷ ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵣⴰⵍ
Navid Charkhi Navid charkhi
Majid Tafreshi Majid Tafreshi

Production development and Videography Modi Hosseini

🎟 General Admission — Tickets available now.
Book your tickets through the link in VIVA’s bio.

📍 Annex, Vancouver 📅 August 27–30, 2026

Show Dates & Times:  Aug. 27 Thu 7:30-8:45
Aug. 28 Fri 7:30-8:45
Aug. 29 Sat 4:00-5:15
Aug. 29 Sat 7:30-8:45
Aug. 30 Sun 4:00-5:30

Presented by TAFF Art Society (TAFF ART SOCIETY ) and VIVA Alliance, This play is supported by Vancouver Civic Theatre (Vancouver Civic Theatres) and The City of Vancouver.

08/07/2026

🎭 Discover a centuries-old love story through contemporary theatre, music, humour, and the unpredictable energy of rehearsal.

𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 is an original English-language absurd play-within-a-half-musical, inspired by Nezami Ganjavi’s twelfth-century romantic epic, Khosrow & Shirin.

Featuring original music and songs inspired by Nezami’s poetry.

Written and directed by Majid Tafreshi Original Music and Music Direction by Madmazel Madmazel
 Performed by:
Sara Poursorkh Sara Poursorkh
Nikta Ghazi nikta.is.here
Steve Amazzal Steve Galid Amazzal ⴳⴰⵍⵉⴷ ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵣⴰⵍ
Navid Charkhi Navid charkhi
Majid Tafreshi Majid Tafreshi

📍 The Annex Theatre, Vancouver 📅 August 27–30, 2026 🎟 General Admission — Tier 1 tickets are now available
Book your tickets through the link in VIVA’s bio.

Set within a contemporary rehearsal, the play follows an ensemble attempting to bring the legendary story of Shirin, Khosrow, and Farhad to the stage. As casting disputes, artistic disagreements, and personal tensions interrupt the process, the production explores love, desire, power, and our fragmented perceptions of the world around us.

Presented by TAFF Art Society (TAFF ART SOCIETY ) and VIVA Alliance, This play is supported by Vancouver Civic Theatre (Vancouver Civic Theatres ) and The City of Vancouver.

08/01/2026

𝑻𝑶 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 𝑶𝑹 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝑻𝑶 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬

𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟕–𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Annex, Vancouver

𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝘼𝙪𝙜.𝟱!
Performed in English, this absurd play-within-a-half-musical draws inspiration from Nezami Ganjavi’s Khosrow and Shirin, weaving English adaptations of his verses into original music and a contemporary theatrical story.

Actors:

Nikta Ghazi nikta.is.here
Steve Amazzal Steve Galid Amazzal ⴳⴰⵍⵉⴷ ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵣⴰⵍ
Navid Charkhi Navid charkhi
Sara Poursorkh Sara Poursorkh
Majid Tafreshi Majid Tafreshi

Writer and Director:
Majid Tafreshi

Production Development:
Modi Hosseini Modi Hosseini

Original Music and Music Direction by
Madmazel (Madmazel )

Assistant Director:
Anita Zangeneh

Stage Manager:
Shahrzad Jafari

Production management:
Shadi Shadbahr شادی شادبهر

This play is supported by Vancouver Civic Theatre and The City of Vancouver. The Annex Vancouver Civic Theatres

Presented by 𝗧𝗔𝗙𝗙 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 and 𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗔 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

07/31/2026

Artist 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗻𝗮𝘇 𝗞𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘆 reflects on memory, migration, and sustaining her artistic practice as a new immigrant in Vancouver.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗻𝗮𝘇 𝗞𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗔’ 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲’𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹.

07/26/2026

At a time when genuine human connection feels increasingly fragile, To Love Or Not To Love asks a timeless question:

𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒔—𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒆?

TAFF Art Society ( TAFF ART SOCIETY ) and VIVA Alliance Present To Love Or Not To Love, an original absurd play-within-a-half-musical inspired by Nezami Ganjavi’s twelfth-century romantic epic Khosrow and Shirin.

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟕–𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐱 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐫.

⏳𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰!
🔗𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐨!

Supported by Vancouver Civic Theatre ( Vancouver Civic Theatres ) and The City of Vancouver( City of Vancouver ).

Majid Tafreshi
Modi Hosseini
Sara Poursorkh
nikta.is.here
Navid charkhi
Steve Galid Amazzal ⴳⴰⵍⵉⴷ ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵣⴰⵍ
Madmazel
Anita Zangeneh
Shahrzad Jafari
Shadi Shadbahr شادی شادبهر

07/21/2026

Written and directed by Majid Tafreshi, 𝑻𝑶 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 𝑶𝑹 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝑻𝑶 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 is an original metatheatrical play-within-a-half-musical inspired by Nezami Ganjavi’s timeless romantic epic Khosrow and Shirin.

Rather than adapting the original story, the play reimagines its emotional and philosophical themes through the lens of a contemporary rehearsal. As a small ensemble attempts to stage the story of Shirin, Khosrow, and Farhad, casting crises, artistic disagreements, and personal tensions gradually dissolve the boundaries between actor and character.

Blending classical Persian poetry, humour, and absurd theatricality, the production transforms an ancient love story into a contemporary reflection on love, representation, migration, power, displacement, and artistic authorship.

Produced through a collaboration between TAFF Art Society ( TAFF ART SOCIETY )and VIVA Alliance.

𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟕–𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐱 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞 | 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐫

🎟️ 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟒.

Majid Tafreshi
Modi Hosseini
Sara Poursorkh
nikta.is.here
Navid charkhi

07/20/2026

We are delighted to welcome 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗯𝗮𝗿
as the Guest Co-curator of VIVA’s 4th Annual Exhibition, 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮.

Anahita is a curator and art historian currently based at the University of Victoria Art Collections, where her research focuses on BIPOC art and community, decolonizing museums, and anti-racism practices. She holds a Master’s in Art History and Visual Studies from the University of Victoria, as well as a Master’s in Architectural and Urban Conservation and a Bachelor’s in Architectural Engineering from Iran.

Among her recent curatorial projects is Aab-e-Ravaan: Language Like Water (2026), presented through the University of Victoria Art Collections (UVic Fine Arts ).

As Guest Co-Curator of Plasticity, Anahita brings a thoughtful curatorial perspective shaped by research, collaboration, and a deep commitment to community-centred practice. Her participation in this year’s curatorial and jury process will be an invaluable contribution to the exhibition.

We are sincerely grateful to Anahita for joining us and for sharing her knowledge, and expertise with VIVA. We look forward to this collaboration and to presenting 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 this September.

Please join us in welcoming Anahita ( Anahita R ) to the VIVA community.

VIVA Alliance

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

08/15/2026

08/12/2026

08/07/2026

08/01/2026

07/31/2026

07/26/2026

07/21/2026

07/20/2026

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