The exhibition visualizes Bîstyek’s home, family, people, and the colours that shape the culture, traditions, and celebrations.
The title carries a deeper meaning: it speaks to the ways Kurdish culture and identity have been suppressed or silenced and how, even today, these colours remain forbidden in some places. Yet they continue to live through memory, celebration, and creation.
Through this work, I reclaim those shades as symbols of resilience, belonging, and beauty that endures under oppression. -Bîstyek
Visually vibrant yet politically and emotionally charged, Forbidden Colours becomes both an act of remembrance and resistance, a declaration that what was once hidden will be seen again.
About the artist
Bîstyek
Born in 1996 in Syria from a Kurdish family, resides and works in Winnipeg, Canada. Bîstyek emerged from a refugee background to become a visual artist. His journey began with a pivotal moment when he decided to quit his job, dedicating himself entirely to his passion for painting. In a mere three months, he completed 40-50 paintings, realizing that art was not just a choice but an intrinsic part of his identity and self-expression.
Bîstyek’s art embodies the raw essence of life’s complexities, capturing personal narratives of displacement and resilience, offering a unique and emotive perspective on the human experience. His canvases act as a refuge from conventionality, portraying emotive portraits of refugees and elements derived from his intimate experiences. Characterized by dramatic imagery and saturated colors, his artistic style invites viewers into a world reflecting memories and emotions, unveiling the depths of his journey and expressions.
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