SPLICE: At the Intersection of Art and Medicine, curated by Nina CZEGLEDY, is the first large-scale public showing of archival images selected from the collection housed at Biomedical Communications, University of Toronto, complemented and challenged by contemporary artworks. The exhibitions at University of Toronto Art Centre (UTAC) and Blackwood Gallery include performances by Diana BURGOYNE and Khadija BAKER.
Co-Presented by Blackwood Gallery and the University of Toronto Art Centre
Sponsored by the 9th 7a*11d International Festival of Performance Art
Diana BURGOYNE
What do you think the mind is?
Tuesday October 23 7 pm
University of Toronto Art Centre (UTAC)
15 King’s College Circle
10 masks suspended from the ceiling and facing a masked performer (Diana). Each mask contains a light sensor, a sound chip with 10 seconds of pre-recorded sound and a speaker. As the audience members place the masks in front of their faces, the sound bite is activated. The sound bite within each mask holds a different voice answering the question “What do you think the mind is?” By gesturing with my hands I activate the recording in my mask, which asks “What, what is it? Although descriptions of the mind are found on the 10 masks, the word ‘mind’ is not, prompting the viewer to reflect on the subject being addressed in the sound-bites. After Diana has performed the piece she will suspend her mask enabling the viewers to activate the sound bite which asks the question.
Diana Burgoyne refers to herself as an electronic folk artist. Her performances and installations have been exhibited in Montreal, Toronto, New York, France, Holland, and Estonia. She was commissioned by Telus Science World to collaborate on a permanent piece, which is exhibited as part of Contraption Corner. She has been the artist in residence at the Surrey Art Gallery’s Tech Lab, participated in SCANZ in New Zealand and has just finished working on a work entitled “Audio Quilt” as artist in residence at the Roundhouse Community Centre. “Audio Quilt” is an interactive installation that reflects the sounds and voices of the Roundhouse community by utilizing one hundred audio chips, each recording 10 seconds of sound. Burgoyne has also worked with elementary school students doing workshops entitled “Get Wired with Electronics” and has taught a class entitled “Creative Electronics” at Emily Carr University of Art + Design since 1998.
Khadija BAKER
My little voice can’t lie
Wednesday October 24 6 pm
(Opening reception October 24 5 pm – 9 pm; Exhibition continues to December 1)
Blackwood Gallery
Kaneff Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga
3359 Mississauga Rd N
A FREE shuttle departs from OCAD U at 5 pm and returns for 8 pm to Mercer Union (1286 Bloor St W) for the start of the 7a*11d Festival.
My little voice can’t lie is the title of a silent moment performance by Montreal-based Kurdish artist Khadija Baker. The viewers are invited to hear recorded text from displaced women. Their stories emanate from speakers embedded at the ends of the performer’s braided hair. The sound track is looped, and viewers will actively need to hold the braids in their hands and press the ends of hair to their ears to hear the stories.
Khadija Baker is a multidisciplinary artist who creates installations that combine video, textile and sound. Her work explores social and political themes related persecution, displacement and memory. Her work has garnered many awards and scholarships. Khadija has exhibited in cultural capitals such as Montreal, Toronto, New York, London, Berlin, Marseille, Beirut and Damascus. She will be presenting her work in summer of 2012 at the 18th biennale of Sydney, Australia. Khadija was born and educated in the town of Amoude, Syria. She studied Interior Design, receiving a BFA in 1996 and a Master’s degree in 1999 from the University of Damascus, Syria. In 2001, she moved to Montreal (Quebec), Canada and worked as a graphic designer. She had a BFA in Studio Arts from Concordia University/ painting & drawing. Currently, she is completing her MFA/Open Media at the same university.
