Reza Michael Safavi

Reza Michael Safavi was raised in the early years after passage of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act of 1988, which had its genesis in 1971. This legislation sought to preserve and guarantee the identities and traditions of all cultures comprising Canadian society. Because Canadians also embraced multiculturalism, they simultaneously encouraged a singular sense of being Canadian. This mixing of cultural traditions often presented complex personal explorations. Safavi himself experienced a dual sense of identity. For the artist, the ocean shore represents his amorphous sense of being absorbed into a larger culture.

Reza Michael Safavi (Pullman, Washington) received a master of fine arts in Digital Arts from the University of Oregon. His work has been shown at Hack Space at the University of Toronto Art Centre, Medialab Prado in Madrid, Spain, COCA in Seattle, and the Pocket Film Festival in Paris. He currently teaches at Washington State University.