City of Faith: Introduction

Introduction 

New York is often perceived as a secular city. But behind this image lie complex and at times surprising relationships that connect religion to shared public space. Often, when we think about religion and space, we imagine churches, mosques, or temples. This exhibition shows that religion, and ideas about religion, are not neatly siloed off from the rest of the city in designated or easily recognizable structures. Rather, they engage the city at an environmental, urban, and public level—in the “secular” streets and sidewalks, soundscapes and scentscapes, foodways, waterfronts, and other unexpected spaces and systems. 

Yet, not all communities have equal access to the city. This exhibition focuses largely on South Asian American communities, which can include people with ties to as many as eight countries, numerous border-spanning cultural groups, diaspora communities, and several religious movements. Particularly since 9/11, these communities—along with larger Muslim and Sikh communities, and Arab Americans—have been racialized and religiously profiled by state actors, the media, and often the public, who falsely perceive them as enemies.

Using art as a mode of imagination and critical inquiry, the exhibition explores the assumptions of the so-called secular city. It shows how New York’s secularism renders specific communities “foreign” and therefore hyper-visible. Focusing largely on the 21st century, it provides a glimpse into how these communities assert their right to the city and build solidarity with others through transformative art, creative spatial practices, and collective action.