Toronto Galleries
The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery
Murderers Bar by Lucy Raven left the biggest impression on me of all the pieces we viewed in Toronto, in which a vertical screen sits opposite a set of bleachers for audiences to watch the release of the Klamath River after the removal of four hydroelectric dams. I was surprised by how many emotions it managed to provoke in me through the various sequences of the river flowing, particularly how the camera’s perspective can influence the interpretation of events and meaning. The play between the aggressive audio and peaceful visuals encapsulated the pressure and institutional tension perfectly, conveyed through an approach I would not typically understand and a form I do not usually enjoy; it made me appreciate the practice more. I do not know why I overlooked it initially. I have a passion for film because I love the combination of audio and video to portray human complexities. Video art does the same thing through diverse techniques. The experience gave me a greater passion for producing video works while teaching me new storytelling techniques.
The Onsite Gallery
The concept behind Becoming (in the light of the miracle) exhibition at the Onsite Gallery truly caught my attention. With the normalization of AI technology across all electronic media, exploring the influence of technological advancements on culture and society was insightful and informative. Sarah Friend’s series of memory forms transforms NFT identities by representing each with thought-like text, overlaying soft circles of colour. I had almost completely forgotten about NFTs. When they initially rose in popularity, I disregarded them because they seemed useless. Seeing them again in this context made me realize how many digital trends almost disappear after the next popular thing, how many digital creations were left to die. Framing them in a way that nearly humanizes each identity gives their demise new meaning. It was such a unique perspective, seeing them as their own entities rather than creations of man, that it made me reflect on the relationship between man and machine, as well as on how I incorporate digital aspects into the works I produce. I find that visiting exhibitions helps nurture new ideas for creating and expands my interests and pursuits. Additionally, I always leave feeling inspired or motivated to make something of my own that evokes the same emotions as the works I previously viewed.
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