Soheila Esfahani
Celebrating Canada's Diversity: Transcendence and Tranquillity, minted Canadian coin, 2024
To view the coin, please visit the Royal Canadian Mint website.
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The reverse design by Canadian artist Soheila Esfahani features simulated turquoise surrounded by engraved patterns that celebrate the cultural heritage of Iranian Canadians from today to those of Ancient Persia and beyond. While a paisley motif surrounds the centrepiece, a repeating maple leaf (symbolizing Canadian identity) and lotus flower (inspired by the reliefs of Persepolis) form a continuous circular pattern that also incorporates a Shah Abbasi floral motif and Eslimi patterns from traditional carpet designs. The obverse features a background pattern of the Persepolis lotus flowers, and the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. The obverse also bears a special marking that includes four pearls symbolizing the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins throughout the reign of the Queen, as well as the double dates of her reign.
In my art practice, I investigate notions of cultural translation within the diaspora, and “translation” in its etymology means “to carry across” or “to bring across.” I often use cultural objects and patterns that immigrants would bring with them to their new home, and those from Iran would often bring a Persian carpet with them when they move to Canada; therefore, I used traditional Persian carpet designs as my inspiration for this coin. I have also included the lotus flower motif that is prominent in the reliefs of Persepolis, to connect the past and present. As an artist, this project has been a fantastic opportunity for me to come full circle by representing my Iranian heritage within the context of Canada.
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Soheila Esfahani, Celebrating Canada's Diversity: Transcendence and Tranquility, digital draft of coin, 2025
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Persian rug medallion owned by the artist
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Hand-drawn draft of coin
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Hand-drawn draft of coin
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From Western News : “Professor and artist Soheila Esfahani designs coin for Royal Canadian Mint" by Megan Stacey
Soheila Esfahani grew up in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Canada in 1992. She received her Master of Fine Arts from Western University and her BA in Fine Arts from the University of Waterloo. She is an award-winning visual artist and the recipient of numerous grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund. She is a recipient of the Waterloo Region Arts Awards 2016 and was nominated for the Jameel Prize at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK, in 2015. Her work has recently been exhibited at the Canadian Cultural Centre, Paris, the Doris McCarthy Gallery, and Cambridge Art Galleries, as well as collected by various public and private institutions, including the Canada Council Art Bank. She is an Assistant Professor at Western University and is a member of the Red Head Gallery in Toronto.
