Ilya and Emilia Kabakov's participatory art project *Ship of Tolerance* (2005–present) has been reinstalled at Oakville Galleries on Lake Ontario, near Toronto, opening on 31 May as part of the exhibition *Between Heaven and Earth* (through 20 September). The project, which involves children from diverse backgrounds creating painted sails for a 60-foot wooden boat, has previously traveled to locations including Siwa, Egypt; the Venice Biennale; Sharjah; Brooklyn; Miami; Moscow; and London. Emilia Kabakov continues to lead the project after Ilya Kabakov's death in 2023, and the latest iteration arrives amid global crises including wars, migrant displacement, and US President Donald Trump's threats to annex Canada.
The project's renewed relevance stems from its core mission of fostering tolerance among children divided by geopolitical conflict, racism, and sexism. Emilia Kabakov reports that the escalation of conflict between Israel and Iran has prompted invitations from at least two more Middle Eastern countries, and that thousands of visitors are coming to see the ship daily in Canada. Future plans include a permanent version in Siwa, Egypt, as a monument to tolerance; a presentation at the inaugural Bukhara Biennial in Uzbekistan; and talks to bring the ship to Saudi Arabia. The project underscores how art can serve as a platform for dialogue and peace-building in an increasingly polarized world.