VMF2021 Neighbourhood: Punjabi Market
Murals in the Market
Written by Project Coordinators Gulzar Nanda (Chair) and Jag Nagra (Creative Director)
It all started with a series of Instagram messages. One after another - ding. DING. DINGGGG. Gulzar was sitting at home scrolling through the search results of #punjabimarket, and he stumbled upon a digital recreation of the market’s bilingual street sign. Gulzar didn't care that it was close to midnight, he didn’t care if he might come across as a bit strange, he just wanted to find out who the person was behind that colourful piece of design that straddled the line between what was new and what had been a part of his entire life.
The very first time we met was at a café. It was sometime in 2019, but the date doesn’t really matter. What we talked about does. We talked about painting one mural in Punjabi Market. We discussed that there was a semblance of a plan to revitalize Punjabi Market—the oldest one in North America. We talked about what the market meant to us, why it was important to honour it, and we reminisced about our earliest memories here. Looking back now, that time spent together, it couldn’t have been more than an hour, completely changed the trajectory of both of our lives.
For Jag, some of her favourite memories from her childhood were making the 40 minute drive from the suburbs to spend the day shopping with her parents, aunts and cousins. Taking in the scents of the fabric and the incense as you first entered fabric shops, watching her parents haggle gold jewellery prices and finally gathering around a table at Himalaya Restaurant to tuck into their family favourite—Chole Bhature. These memories are seared into her mind and when the opportunity came to join the Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective, she jumped on it. For Gulzar, he was born and raised in the market. The market was his teacher, his friend, his playground, and his home. He grew up here and some of his most formative memories are centered here.
Over the last 15-20 years, Punjabi Market has faced challenges. With the expansion of the South Asian population in Surrey and the growth of commerce there, many shop owners from the market moved out. Business owners followed where their customers were. Many have asked us why we’re trying to preserve this 3-block area of Vancouver and what the point is. For us, it’s to be able to retain our collective history as South Asians who settled in South Van, and to ensure that the place where our parents first found familiarity in a new country is preserved so that the next generation can create the same memories we did when we were young.
Gulzar and I started this process somewhat naively at the beginning of the year. Not knowing the intricacies of planning for murals and not knowing how many moving parts there would be. Looking back, we probably should have had a team of 4 or 5 other folks working with us. Our biggest challenge in all the work we’re doing in Punjabi Market has been getting the business owners on board. For decades, they’ve had a business-oriented mindset in everything they do. And as an arts and culture non-profit, we’ve had to take on the task to educate them about the importance of shining a light on the arts here. We’re looking to create place-making initiatives, gathering spaces, and overall a market that will draw people in and reintroduce them to the history and importance of this part of Vancouver.
It has been challenging to meet during the global pandemic, but Gulzar and I have carved out time to bring this project together by meeting (almost) every Saturday since January (via teleconference of course). We’re hopeful that this inaugural year of Murals in the Market is just the beginning. To be able to tell stories and perspectives from BIPOC artists and to celebrate our rich histories is something we strive for. We’re excited to see art come to life in such a large scale and to lay the foundation for years to come. Art plays such an important role in so many cultures. It’s a way for people to connect—oftentimes without even realizing it.
We’re grateful to our Supporting Sponsor RBC, Community Sponsor TD, Mural Sponsors Orr Development and City of Vancouver, and Community Partners, Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts, Ajit & Harj Thandi (Tim Hortons on Main & 49th), All India Sweets & Restaurant and Roots Café for having heard our vision and helping us bring it to life. Their support has been immeasurable and has helped us create an incredible community around us.
ENTER TO WIN THE PUNJABI MARKET PRIZE GIVEAWAY:
Discover Vancouver’s diverse neighbourhoods while having a chance to win some incredible prizes! This summer, participating neighbourhoods are generously providing gift packs curated from local businesses in their area. Download the VMF App and use the interactive map to help you find this year’s new murals and more across Vancouver!
Enter to WIN the Punjabi Market prize giveaway that includes one $100 gift card for Hi-Class Jewellers, $100 to All-India Sweets, and $100 to Roots Cafe with the instructions below:
Post a carousel on Instagram of THREE or more murals from Punjabi Market
Tag @punjabimarketyvr @vanmuralfest in the photo and/or caption
Make sure to use #vmfpunjabimarket and #vanmuralfest
Every carousel post equals another entry!
Winners for the neighbourhood giveaways will be chosen by August 25th.
Read the Terms and Conditions here.
MEET THE PUNJABI MARKET ARTISTS:
