Sajdeep Soomal is currently a PhD candidate in History at the University of Toronto. He worked closely with Elspeth on the Queering Family Photography exhibition and on the Scholars-in-Residence Program (2017-2018).

When Saj began working with us, he was a writer, researcher and public programming specialist working at the South Asian Visual Arts Centre where they were completing a three-year oral history project about the Toronto-based South Asian arts festival Desh Pardesh (1988-2001) with the launch of a digital archive, podcast series and educational guide.

His research focuses on science and technology studies, the history of consciousness and madness, and contemporary art practices within and beyond South Asia.

Out of the office, Sajdeep re-invents his many drag personas – expect more Punjabi boliyan, more Pakistani pop songs from the 80s and–of course–more of her laal dupatta.