The plight of Syrian refugees and the ongoing displacement of peoples in Toronto and abroad inspired three Master of Museum Studies students to curate an exhibition throughout the Faculty of Information’s building, showcasing colourful paintings, photography, and wall murals by 12 local emerging artists, many affiliated with community-engaged organizations.
Madeleine Adamson, Annissa Malvoisin, and Camille-Mary Sharp say they felt the theme of displacement was important to explore because the topic touches most people’s lives.
“There are many displaced people in Toronto — from homeless individuals, to refugees, to those who feel disconnected from their surroundings for other reasons. We hope the exhibition not only allows the 12 artists involved to share their experiences in a meaningful way, but also invites reflection and discussion about the issues surrounding displacement,” the students say.
In partnership with an organization for street-involved youth, SKETCH, and The Remix Project, Common Ground: ART x BISSELL features artworks throughout the building exploring topics such as homelessness, gender, and diaspora, drawing on the participating artists’ experiences of—and relationships with—displacement.
Despite only being in her early twenties, artist Samaa Ahmed(pictured right), born in Karachi, Pakistan, has already lived in five countries. “I have moved around a lot. My work is about my experiences growing up in diaspora. My art is somewhat nostalgic in that I reference Mughal and truck-style art, and I like to use traditional patterns and colours, but it’s also very optimistic and future-oriented. The images that I have chosen in this exhibition are vibrant and positive. Instead of framing my work around stereotypes, I am showing the beauty that is abundant in my culture.”
Though the works on display will be diverse, all artists demonstrate that the creative process can foster a common sense of belonging in a foreign place—in other words, that art can be their common ground.
Contemporary art objects range from photographs of a Chicago protest following the shooting of African American teenager Laquan MacDonald, to paintings of rural landscapes.
Madeleine, Annissa, and Camille-Mary’s exhibition, launched on April 7th, was curated as part of Professor Matthew Brower and Carmen Victor’s Exhibition Project class.
The open exhibition will also be featured in the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival in May.
