WIsdoM ripples
An exciting photo exhibit featuring 3 Toronto-based photographers, curated by 9 young women from The Esplanade community.
Outdoor Photo Exhibit
November 2021 to February 2022
David Crombie Park
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Produced and presented by
Jamii @jamiiesplanade
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Featured photographers:
Roya DelSol
Brianna Roye
Zahra Siddiqui
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Curated by our Laini youth: Lydia Embaye, Mira Ghabiel, Aela Kuria, Tenzin Paldon, Anhar Salem, Morgan Tortolo, Nada Yakot, Hanna Yusuf, Leena Yusuf
Curation process facilitated by: Gilian Mapp, Isorine Marc
Project Management: Jasmin Linton, Isorine Marc
Graphic design: Iris Unlu
Video documentation by: Noshin Hussain (student), mentored by Alejandra Higuera (videographer)
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Supported by: RBC Foundation, Rama Gaming House, Government of Ontario’s Reconnect Festival & Event Program, Ontario Arts Council
CONTEXT:
This exhibit features the work of the three Toronto-based powerful photographers Roya DelSol, Brianna Roye, Zahrah Siddiqui, and is curated by 9 young women of The Esplanade community. Together, and as a way to leap into next year, photographers and curators explored Jamii’s 2022 season theme: WATER IS MEMORY.
Project Video by Noshin Hussain, mentored by Alejandra Higuera
Exhibit Video by Isorine Marc
Artistic Statement by the 9 young women who curated this exhibit:
Water is memory.
Water, like memory, has a rhythm; it ripples in water like time and music on a page.
A souvenir from a trip taken long ago. The scents from childhood. The familiar sound of laughter from your loved ones.
Memories from the past rushing in and out like waves, crashing and flowing like a storm of culture.
From the storm one experiences a sinking feeling that leads to the calmness and serenity; water represents an infinity of emotions.
Never knowing the depth of memories, their light, or how dark they can appear.
Bodies of water come in different forms. Bruce Lee once said: “Be formless, shapeless, like water. Put water into a cup, it becomes a cup”.
Expansion. Fluidity. Contained. Release. Defining. Armored. Abyss. Adrift. Polarized. Symphony.
Wisdom.
Water dries like memory fades.
Water is memory.
Photos: Delphy Photography
Curation process:
Our group of young women curated this exhibit and crafted its title and artistic statement. They were initially presented with 30 photos, 10 by each of the three photographers. Through a series of 8 workshops, under the artistic leadership of Gillian Mapp and Isorine Marc, they worked together to select 10 photos only. Through the exchange of ideas, perspectives and opinions, they explore the “why” and "how" to present this exhibit to their community and to you.
Photos: Isorine Marc
Featured photographers:
Roya DelSol
Roya DelSol is a Black lens-based artist, curator & cultural worker currently living in T’karonto/Toronto. Creating motion work ranging from experimental documentaries to music videos. She aims for her work in all spheres to centre and uplift the experiences Black, queer, and marginalized peoples. Past photographic work captures Black femme intimacies, strength & joy in hopes of visualizing new, liberated worlds.
@royadelsol
Brianna Roye
Brianna Roye is a film photographer specializing in portraiture. A graduate of Humber's photography program, she’s accumulated six years of experience where she’s extended her lens to Adidas, has had her work featured in publications like Macleans and FLARE and has shot festivals inclusive of ManifesTO and Afropunk. Inspired by her Jamaican roots, she uses her ongoing project, "Out of Many, One People” to chronicle portraits of queer, Afro-Caribbean people. Using intention as a guiding principle, she strives towards a level of organicness in her imagery. “I try to take photos of people as they are. I like to capture people's beauty and essence in as much as an honest way as I can,” she says. Hailing from Toronto’s west end, Roye is passionate about using her talent to tell stories and document underrepresented communities. @briannablank
Zahra Siddiqui
Toronto based photographer and mixed media artist Zahra Siddiqui picked up the camera 10 years ago. Her archive of portraits, mixed media work and community activations, have been focused on celebrating the existence of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour , 2SLGBTQ+ and those who live along the margins of society. Zahra evolved from photography to the use of mixed media, experimenting with acrylic paint, textiles and adornments as a way to create more layers of impact to her portraits. Zahra’s ultimate goal is to engage people through work which evokes questions, to wonder why she focused on these groups of people and to be conscious of those humans who add so much value to the world, but are treated as though they’re Invisible.
@zahra_siddiqui
@the_invisiblemajority