‘Sufra (Displaced Objects)’, an exhibit designed by Nuhad Haffar-Orsini of Nu Sculpture Studio and Salma Serry of Sufra Archives, is an immersive collaboration that navigates grief, collective memory and migration through the lens of the sufra—an Arabic term for a communal meal rooted in the word safar (to travel).
At the exhibit’s heart are sculptures born from tableware that Nuhad carried from her former home in Beirut to her current home in Oakville, Ontario. These objects—ordinary and deeply meaningful—are intertwined with her personal archive of family photos at the sufra, taken by her father during cherished gatherings in Lebanon. Through these artifacts, ‘Sufra (Displaced Objects)’ highlights the paradox of loss and belonging, turning everyday relics into symbols of shared memory and identity.
The exhibit also features personal and historical contributions from Salma Serry, founder of the largest digital culinary archive in the SWANA region, showcasing insights into the sufra‘s cultural significance and traditions.
Connecting personal and shared histories and honouring communal moments of joy, resilience, and loss, ‘Sufra (Displaced Objects)’ invites you to reflect on the bonds that tie us to the people and places we can no longer touch but will forever carry in our hearts.
