Eight local artists showcase their work at the event.
This past weekend, we hosted our Canvas & Kahani event at Alfa Art Gallery in New Brunswick. On display were eight local artists whose work showcased pyrography, photography, sculpture, digital illustration and oil painting.
The afternoon also featured an open mic portion, where we were blown away by stunning performances that included spoken word about being South Asian, poetry exploring memories of place and people, and a performance of a Bengali song, “Amaro Porano Jaha Chay (All my soul desires).”
If you took a look around the room, one thing was obvious — South Asians are not a monolith. Even through our creativity, we are exploring varied themes in different art forms. Attendees at the event, South Asian and non-South Asian alike, remarked on how inspiring it was to see the rich diversity in the room, diversity within our community.
We are grateful to all who attended and for the connections made. The afternoon was a testament to what Central Desi is trying to build—a safe space for all Desis to come together and truly feel like a community.
Even if you weren’t able to attend, consider following the artists we highlighted and supporting their work. We’ll link their accounts at the end of this piece.
One of our show’s artists, Janhavi Firke, perfectly encapsulated the event.
“What inspired me most was the atmosphere — so many young creatives coming together to talk about art, culture, ideas, and the power of creative expression,” she said. “The conversations were thoughtful, the energy was positive and the sense of community was truly refreshing.”
Ambreen Ali, founding editor of Central Desi, starts the event by introducing herself to guests. Central Desi, a South Asian news publication, hosts its first-ever art showcase and open-mic at Alfa Art Gallery on Church Street. (Photo by Sunah Choudhry)
Resin artist Pranali Bharambe and artist and Rutgers alumna Rushiga Sarveiya discuss her oil painting named “Sudama Nagar.” (Photo by Sunah Choudhry)
Pyrographist Janhavi Firke’s wood-burning piece, “Life in Motion.” The piece displays that life is neverending and a constant circle of evolution. (Photo by Sunah Choudhry)
Zainab Masoud’s artwork, named “Techno-Feudalism,” is her modern twist on John Gast’s iconic painting, “American Progress.” Her take features billionaires Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Peter Thiel. (Photo by Sunah Choudhry)
Ifrah Akhtar, Central Desi’s editorial and art director, introduces herself to attendees and announces an open mic for 3 pm. (Photo by Sunah Choudhry)
Poet Munsif Husami performs spoken word poetry to the crowd. (Photo by Sunah Choudhry)
Left: Singer Rujan Ahmed performs a song at Canvas and Kahani. Right: Poet Farhan Yousaf reads his poetry to the crowd. (Photo by Sunah Choudhry)
Zainab Masoud speaks with her former high school history teacher about her piece, “Techno-Feudalism.” (Photo by Sunah Choudhry)
Close-up of resin artist Pranali Bharambe’s “The Koi Fish and Lotus Pond.”
(Photo by Sunah Choudhry)
Stay tuned for future events and we encourage you to follow us on Instagram.
🎨 Artists featured at the event:
Hanifa Abdul Hameed
Janhavi Firke
Munahil Akhtar
Mansi Bhatt
Pooja Makhijani
Rushiga Sarveiya
Pranali Bharambe
Zainab Masoud
🎤 Open Mic performers:
Munsif Husami
F.S. Yousaf
Rujan Ahmed
Ifrah Akhtar is the associate editor at Central Desi. Her work has been featured in Edible Jersey, Muslim Girl, Cold Tea Collective, and more. She is also the founder of MODEST Magazine, a fashion publication.
Upcoming events
We don’t have specific events to share this week, but ask you to support this urgent campaign telling NJ lawmakers to invest in the Healthy AAPI Communities Budget.
Take action here or call and email directly to share any personal experiences or voice your needs:
Speaker Coughlin: [email protected] | 732-855-7441
Senate President Scutari: [email protected]| 732-827-7480
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