RE/Orient: A Cultural Salon at The Friday Gallery
A Night at the Intersection of Art, Fashion, and Poetry
Last Friday, something truly special took place. At The Friday Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles, we gathered for an intimate evening where art, fashion, and poetry intertwined to explore stories of identity, tradition, and modernity. The evening celebrated the beauty and complexity of existing in the in-between—where culture evolves, identities converge, and the past meets the present.
The title, RE/Orient, draws inspiration from the outdated concept of "orientalism," which historically exoticized Eastern cultures through a Western lens. This salon was about reclaiming and reimagining that narrative, challenging preconceived notions of what wearing your culture “should” look like. The event embraced the space between tradition and modernity, a space where identity takes shape and grows.
At the center of this cultural salon was the work of Nadia Girach, a conceptual photographer whose work captures the experiences of Muslim youth as they navigate the intersections of Western influences and their own cultural traditions. Girach’s photography reminds us that identity is never static—it is constantly evolving, forever in a state of becoming.
The marquee piece of her exhibit was the installation, “Woven Stories”, featuring two of Nadia’s shots layered on top of one another - a push and pull of the various forms of identity within each of us. In the background, a woman’s figure seems to float, surrendering to the unknown. In contrast, the man’s profile at the foreground offers a quiet meditation on the freedom that comes when we embrace the stillness between moments, grounded in the present while gazing toward what life may bring. These two works, printed on different silks, created an ever-shifting, ethereal effect as light and perspective changed. Together, they symbolized the complexity of self expression - honoring your past, grounded in your present, and ready for what may come.
The evening was about more than just viewing art—it was about living it. Rah, a founder of made-to-order custom fashion brand Rah Shit, shared his own origin story from helping his father with small graphic design projects to advocate and support establishing Little Bangladesh as a force in Los Angeles as a kid to owning and running a studio and fashion brand rooted in the very neighborhood that raised him. Every piece Rah designs carries a story, from the sourcing of the fabric to the thoughtfulness behind each seam and detail.I had the privilege of wearing a custom piece by Rah featuring dropped sleeves, a cotton jersey neckline, and top made from an upcycled Sari that was purchased at a local mosque. The piece perfectly articulate me and my style - menswear inspired, classic, and always with a good dash of a modern edge.
We also invited guests to engage in an exercise, which sparked meaningful conversations about cultural identity. Questions like, "Are you more shaped by your heritage or your zip code?" and "Do you wear your culture on your sleeve or in your heart?" prompted reflection, allowing attendees to explore how their identities are woven into their daily lives. These discussions mirrored the themes of the evening—the intersectionality of identity and the balance between heritage and place.
The night culminated in moving poetry sets featuring Ravina Wadhwani and Tanzila Ahmed. Their powerful performances touched on migration, cultural appropriation, and reclaiming narratives, bringing the evening’s themes full circle. The words of the poets resonated deeply, adding layers of meaning and offering a visceral reminder of the complexities of navigating multiple identities.
If you haven’t yet experienced Nadia’s work, I encourage you to visit the exhibit or shop the RE/Orient Collection on Friday’s website. Her work tells stories that challenge, inspire, and remind us that identity is always evolving—existing beautifully in the spaces between tradition and transformation. The exhibit is up until Sunday. You can also schedule a viewing of the exhibit at The Friday Gallery here.
Huge thank you to the Friday Gallery for hosting and supporting my first curatorial project. Am so grateful for the space, opportunity, and trust through the process. Friday is a gallery and concept store in DTLA that encourage the discovery of rising creative voices from the Global South.