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May 2018 |
Home to relics from our country’s rich history, the National Museum holds objects time-weathered but tangible, and the atmosphere inside the Victorian-era building, with its narrow corridors, dim lighting and wood floors, immerses visitors in the journey through our nation’s past. Enter the DCFA’s exhibition, however, and the museum’s rustic environment gives way to light and space. The room’s high ceiling and white walls make it feel open and the art is well-spaced, giving each piece its deserved attention. Unlike the museum’s artefacts, protected behind glass cases, preserved for essential historical and cultural record, the DCFA students’ art pieces are exposed to engage the senses and encourage interaction. Rather than represent fact, they’re meant to share the artist’s experience and to invite the viewer’s interpretation. Yet, these students’ works of art are an apt accompaniment to the history that lies in our museum. Continuing our country’s story, they share experiences of the modern world, from the emotions attached to abuse and mental illness, to the practical needs for proper facilities in public spaces and a serious solution to our crime problem.
A walk around the gallery shows a variety of media (sculpture, assemblage, weaving, photographic and graphic, for example), created using a multitude of different materials (from red sand, wood and glass, to soap and fabric) that invite reflection. Elements of the dark and macabre arose as artists tackled issues of mental and physical illness. Curtis Thomas’ resin and lace sculpture, aptly titled “Undone,” illustrated the fragility of the human psyche in the face of depression. Cheryl Wight’s “Redemption,” a large, flowing, tangle of bright red cloth and thread, went further, inviting the viewer to walk through the 12-foot high, 63-foot wide mass. The inability to see clearly through the fabric from either side is meant to depict the isolation and confusion of dementia, as well as the distress of a caregiver.
Cultural gender stereotypes and body image issues were investigated in Anthony Jaboolal’s photographic series, “Bare,” which depicted shots of his own henna-painted body. The close-up images, zooming-in tightly on each body part, and the reflective effect of black and white photography, conjured a deep sense of intimacy, giving the audience an exclusive view into the highly personal struggle with insecurity. Design student, Kadine Antoine, approached the all-too prevalent human obsession with appearance, by illuminating the eating disorders and self-harm practiced by many young girls. Covered in happy shades of pink and calming blues, with hand-painted images of open-winged dragonflies and butterflies, and hand-written messages of inspiration throughout its pages, her journal, the “Battimamzelle Activity Book,” offered a creative outlet through which sufferers could channel their emotions and eliminate destructive behaviour.
Rainy-day clothing, a chair for DCFA students, a short animated film, and various explorations of nature, religion, illusion, sound, smell and texture … the DCFA’s final-year student art exhibition was filled with artistic pieces, too many to describe, but each unique and impactful. |