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  • With social change and public interaction at the core of his art, Aquil Virani asked the public what adjectives describe inspiring women and picked 26 from A to Z to feature in 26 prints. This is a portrait of Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Doris Bill.
    The.Ismaili | 21 March 2018 | Jubilee Arts

    Aquil Virani: Art as a medium for social change

    With social change and public interaction at the core of his art, Aquil Virani asked the public what adjectives describe inspiring women and picked 26 from A to Z to feature in 26 prints. This is a portrait of Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Doris Bill.
  • Aquil Virani was involved with Canada's Self Portrait, a collaborative art project that speaks to real stories and real people across Canada.
    The.Ismaili | 21 March 2018 | Jubilee Arts

    Aquil Virani: Art as a medium for social change

    Aquil Virani was involved with Canada's Self Portrait, a collaborative art project that speaks to real stories and real people across Canada.
  • With social change and public interaction at the core of his art, Aquil Virani asked the public what adjectives describe inspiring women and picked 26 from A to Z to feature in 26 prints. This is a portrait of Canadian-Iranian Homa Hoodfar.
    The.Ismaili | 21 March 2018 | Jubilee Arts

    Aquil Virani: Art as a medium for social change

    With social change and public interaction at the core of his art, Aquil Virani asked the public what adjectives describe inspiring women and picked 26 from A to Z to feature in 26 prints. This is a portrait of Canadian-Iranian Homa Hoodfar.
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As a full-time artist, Aquil’s creative projects are not limited to one medium, but actually encompass art in multiple forms—from portrait paintings, to canvas media, and even documentaries. He says, “positive social impact is at the core of what I do” and explains that “while my artwork ranges in subject matter, the common threads are an enthusiastic engagement with the public, the recent explicit focus on portraiture, and a deep commitment to art that helps create social change.”

In Aquil’s words, “the ultimate goal is to make art more accessible while contributing to systemic change, both in terms of people’s attitudes about underrepresented, marginalised populations as well as the redistribution of resources.”

A self-taught artist, Aquil explains that having a community of artists provides, “a network of like-minded colleagues is both an intrinsic good and a benefit to each participating artist.” He reflects on the ability to share resources, improve each other’s skills, support each other, and “ultimately create synergy amongst their efforts so that the entire community enjoys the effects of a thriving artistic culture.”

Aquil is hopeful that Jubilee Arts will “connect artists within the community, providing an opportunity to meet, share, and collaborate,” but also mentor and help each other thrive as artists. “The power of the arts to change the narratives about who we are and what we stand for is crucial in building a more equitable society.”

Jubilee Arts and the International Arts Festival provide an opportunity for artists, both budding and professional, to showcase their unique gifts. We encourage all artists within the Jamat to participate in this Diamond Jubilee international programme. Follow the Jubilee Arts journey on the.ismaili/jubilee-arts.