In Preparation for the Cairo Workshop: A Conversation with our UofT Grads

In preparation for the GPRI’s second workshop — a cross-institutional experiment set to be held in Cairo, Egypt in a few short weeks — me and my fellow research assistants, Sara Ameri and Fahimeh Ghorbani are facilitating a series of conversations with the project’s invited graduate student participants. Our invited grads come from multiple institutions across Canada, India, and Egypt, including the University of Toronto, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, the American University in Cairo, Ain Shams University, and Cairo University. This brilliant group of burgeoning scholars work across various disciplines. Their innovative research methods and passion for the global past not only challenge existing paradigms of premodern inquiry but also embrace risks to expand the boundaries of knowledge in their respective fields.  

To kick off the series, I recently sat down with our University of Toronto students. We spoke about our research interests, how Cairo and the upcoming workshop fits into our overall work, and why the GPRI appeals to us. What I loved most about our conversation was their enthusiasm to connect with local Egyptian sites while engaging in scholarly conversation with others.  

Kai Wang, a PhD student in the department of art history, works on the presence of Islam in parts of premodern China by focusing on their artistic remnants. He specifically looks at the 9th century Ashab Mosque, located in the city of Quanzhou, which precedes other Islamic presence within the region.  

When asked how their research aligns with the GPRI’s mandate, their cumulative answer pointed to a unanimous theme: ‘Global Connection.’ Yating’s project traces the production of jade across East Russia to East Asia, and into her current focus, Hong Kong. Specifically looking at the technique of jade cutting, and more broadly, stone cutting, Yating is interested in exploring further how techniques translate in different parts of the globe. Global connections also show up in Rachel’s work as she traces how religion was transmitted in different parts of the Mediterranean.  

Likewise, both Kai’s academic and research backgrounds highlight alignment with the GPRI’s mission. His master’s program in China participated in an exchange of scholars with the University of Toronto’s art history program. Through this academic exchange program, he uncovered the seaport city of Quanzhou where he found materials pertaining not only to medieval Christianity but also to Macedonia and Islam. While Kai, Yating, and Rachel come from a wide range of backgrounds — art history, anthropology, and religion — their research shares a common theme: the study of transcultural and transgeographical intersections of art, architecture, material culture, religious customs, and beliefs. 

This wide yet interrelated research also finds common interests in Cairo. When asked what they are most interested in seeing in Cairo, all were looking forward to the built environment. Kai immediately responded, “it is important for me to see the real Islamic architecture” especially in an important city like Cairo that “connects the Islamic world with the Mediterranean World.” He passionately exclaims that the presence of foreign architects, scholars, and artists from Syria, Persia, and Sicily, alongside the response of local people and materials to build Islamic architecture in Cairo, mirrors the historical situation of his own research. While Rachel, like many of us, is looking forward to visiting the new Grand Egyptian Museum, Yating would like to closely investigate stone or jade artefacts made with ancient techniques stored at various museums. 

Aside from local activities, the three were more excited about engaging in cross-institutional dialogue with peers from the American University in Cairo and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Kai said, “it is not only the materials and artworks, but more importantly [the workshop] gives us the opportunity to communicate with students and professors from India and Egypt.” Rachel shared her enthusiasm to go beyond a Canadian approach, and to experience a different cultural outlook. Similarly, Yating looks forward to learning from other scholars who can give her different insight and research methods. Since scholarship mainly develops through a series of rigorous dialogue, we are hoping the workshop in Cairo can be a conduit that fosters this much-needed cross-institutional relationship.

As we wrapped up the meeting, I asked them one final question about how the GPRI can support their graduate experience. It was vital for Rachel that, despite the distance, the GPRI help to maintain the intercultural and interinstitutional relationship between our partner institutions after the workshop. Through the Cairo workshop, we hope not only to build a stronger academic community but also to foster a more inclusive, expansive, and multifaceted relationship through our shared interest in the global past.  

Ending the conversation, I left with numerous insights from my colleagues about their individual works and the wonderful relationship they had with Cairo as a site. I look forward to cultivating a more fruitful dialogue with them moving forward. Stay tuned for our upcoming conversation with students from Mumbai and Cairo!