Born in 1978 in Lucknow, India, Kiran is a graduate of McGill University and the Dawson Institute of Photography in Montreal. She has participated in several group and solo exhibitions of her personal work in Canada, Japan, India and Nepal. Passionate about people, the spaces they create and inhabit, their lifestyle, and the arts, Kiran Ambwani is a globe-trotting documentary and portrait photographer, and photography educator, based in Montreal. Kiran’s images reflect a sensitivity shaped by her background in anthropology and environmental studies, and her numerous travels. Driven by a curiosity for the problematics encountered by marginalized populations, Kiran has explored, among others, the lives of Tibetan monks in exile in south India, the survivors of child trafficking in Mumbai & Kathmandu, the inhabitants of Dharavi: Asia’s largest slum in Mumbai, and post-disaster relief efforts in Nepal, Ecuador and Haiti. Kiran has facilitated several photography workshops in Canada and abroad. Working on issues of creativity, identity and self- esteem, the resulting images have been shared with the public via exhibition and publication.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Milton Tanaka was born in Brazil to Japanese parents. He speaks Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, French and English. After studying theatrical direction in Brazil and practicing Butoh dance in Japan, under the founder of Butoh, Master Kazuo Ohno, he immigrated to Canada, Montreal.

Originally from Pikogan, a small Aboriginal community in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Samian has conquered the music scene by proudly wearing his colors, those of an entire people, for which he claims respect and recognition. Discovered in 2004 thanks to the Wapikoni Mobile project, he has since released four albums, one of which, Face à la musique (2011), won a Félix at the ADISQ gala for hip-hop album of the year. He has performed across Canada and in more than a dozen countries around the world. He has also published a collection of poetry from songs off his first three albums. In addition, several of his poems can be found today in various books used in Quebec schools. In February 2016, he was awarded the prestigious Artist for Peace Award, which is recognized across Canada. His fourth album, Le messager (2019), was popularly received on its release. He has acted in the film Hochelaga, terre des âmes (2017) by François Girard, among others. Samian also hosts the documentary series En marge du monde (2019) on TV5 Monde.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

DIBA is a Persian music ensemble founded in 2015 in Montreal by three talented artists: Reza Abaee, composer and artistic director, Pendar, singer and general manager, and M-Reza Parhizkari, oudist and setâr player. DIBA is dedicated to the creation and production of an original music repertoire. Like the heralds of the past, musician messengers who drew crowds with the power of their instruments, DIBA offers a unifying repertoire of vibrant and organic music with universal messages. The ensemble was born out of its founder’s desire to create unifying pieces and make Persian scholarly music known to the general public. Under the artistic direction of Reza Abaee, DIBA offers to the public musical creations rooted in a Persian classical repertoire and distinctive influences from Western music. The creations are conceived as true musical experiences, renewing traditional Persian repertoire and dressing Persian poetry with a touch of modernity. On stage, Pendar sings texts borrowed from classical Iranian literature, responding to the captivating musical compositions written by Reza Abaee.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

PAMANA ng LuzViMinda is a folkdance company from the Philippines founded in 2005 to represent and preserve the cultural heritage of the Philippines. Based in Montreal’s multicultural metropolis, PAMANA has become an ambassador for Filipino cultural folkdance. Most importantly, PAMANA has distinguished itself over the years by investing in youth mentorship and leadership training.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Chittakone, who is of Laotian origin, pays tribute to his Asian roots with his project Hazy Montagne Mystique. He works closely with Guillaume Vallée, Pulsatilla, and Kim-Sanh Châu. He has performed his work in Canada, the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, and Austria. Chittakone Baccam is the artistic director of the experimental label Jeunesse Cosmique.

Bandcamp