"Close to the Clouds: Encountering Digital Diasporas" includes art such as "And yet my mask is powerful, Part 1" by Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme. Image courtesy of Bemis Center.
By Abigail Gocek
Bemis Center Presents Close to the Clouds: Encountering Digital Diasporas
February 17th, 2026
Connection is a the driving force that brings individuals the world over together to form a unified community. With the rise of technology, that web of connection has only grown to support countless communities born out of the way people interact with each other on the internet. Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is exploring these niche communities in their newest exhibition, “Close to the Clouds: Encountering Digital Diasporas”, open now through May 3.
An exhibition with artwork heavily utilizing technology, Bemis Center Curator in Residence Kathy Cho describes “Close to the Clouds: Encountering Digital Diasporas” as an experience inspired by her own experience with the internet. Fascinated by both diaspora artists and artists that work with technology, Cho decided to propose an exhibition that would combine the two. Once the exhibition was approved, Cho dove into her residency by both researching and developing her idea.
Alongside the themes of connection and relationships, “Close to the Clouds: Encountering Digital Diasporas” explores the way that the internet has shaped identity and culture. The works within the exhibition illustrate the concept of digital diasporas, geographically dispersed individuals that retain relationships and cultural tradition by building communities on the internet.
For more information about the exhibition, “Close to the Clouds: Encountering Digital Diasporas”, visit bemiscenter.org.
