Creative Resilience, Resilient Creativity features work by 20 emerging artists who explore themes of community, innovation, intimacy, resilience and isolation, drawing upon their lived experience during the pandemic. The exhibition is presented by OCAD University Chancellor Jamie Watt.
The pandemic presented a unique environment to create in a time and space like never before. This new free, public exhibition presents works that express a range of what it meant to create during a pandemic – from themes that include profound loneliness and isolation, resiliency, innovation and experimentation.
The exhibition builds on the success of OCAD U’s recent GradEx 107 and features 20 artists from the last three OCAD U graduate exhibitions. The exhibition is free and opens to the public on Thursday, June 9 at 6 p.m. in the lobby of First Canadian Place at 100 King Street West. Sponsored by Brookfield Properties and Navigator, works will be on display until June 24.
Curatorial Message From Marilyn Adlington
In partnership with OCAD U Grad Ex, Creative Resilience/Resilient Creativity: Chancellor Jaime Watt’s Gallery surveys the many ways that living through a pandemic warps our experience of time and space. Historically, the work of artists has been a consistent guide through times of strife and devastation, providing glimmers of connection, hope, and perhaps even joy, amidst dark and challenging realities. This exhibition brings together twenty artists selected for their capacity to spark reflection and respect for the collective grief shared amongst the masses, shedding light on the breadth of insight and inspiration that has been consistently demonstrated by OCAD University graduates over the past three years.
In medium or message, each artist featured in Creative Resilience/Resilient Creativity engages themes that respond to the conditions of the pandemic, spanning sentiments of loneliness and sorrow as well as surprise and longing. While some address the pandemic through the depiction of domestic spaces and shifted routines of care, others engage the experience through the materials they use. In many cases, the shifts in their artistic practice results in unique and experimental work that challenges notions of genre and artistic discipline by instead celebrating the innovative creativity that comes out of such resilience.
Ultimately, the collection features a multifaceted perspective that is enriched by its distinctive modes of address. Together, the artworks featured in Creative Resilience/Resilient Creativity present an attempt to encapsulate many realties that the pandemic has forced upon us. Because each artwork has a story that is inspired by the same event, the exhibition becomes a vessel for collective storytelling and a form of community connection. The breath of experiences throughout the past three years are worth documenting as a cultural record that demonstrates how resilience and creativity mutually reinforce one another. As both a cultural snapshot and philosophical meditation, Creative Resilience/Resilient Creativity offers a thoughtful compendium of artwork about the pandemic that demonstrates how we may all be encouraged to dream differently in this new world.
Exhibiting Artists
"Home Gardening" Bathing of the Buddha by pouring a fragrance over Buddha’s statue to celebrate Buddha’s birth can be synthesized with a gardening activity, when someone pours water over their plants. “Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara (Korean: Suwolgwaneum)” as the reference image.
I enjoy the process of making art, trying to composing each of the elements in harmony. I believe that not knowing the outcome is a key to make the process more fun and enjoyable. This positive attitude toward the uncertainty is revealed in my painting.
Studying abnormal psychology in university, she has been questioning the boundaries between normal and abnormal. In her art, she likes to experiment with what we believe is normal—tradition, universal value, and rational ways of thinking.