Discover the stories behind the detailed paintings and textile work of Toronto-based artist Nep Sidhu
Date/Time: Jun 8 2016, 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Surrey, Surrey Art GalleryCost: Free
The clothing, prayer rugs, tapestries, and mixed media work of Nep Sidhu all tell stories in Shadows in the Major Seventh. Learn more about the art, artist, and ideas behind the exhibition in this tour and talk led by Alison Rajah, Curator of Education and Engagement, who will be joined by special guest Cecily Nicholson.
About the Exhibit
In Shadows in the Major Seventh, Nep Sidhu bridges textiles, calligraphy, film, music, architecture, social justice, and the divine feminine. Originally a welder by trade who comes from a long line of storytellers, Sidhu describes himself as “someone who connects things in the world.” His non-commercial clothing line Paradise Sportif is informed by modern and ancestral garment design. Made with materials and processes like embroidered silk, embossed leather, and wool chenille, these garments are worn by pioneering personalities in the critically-acclaimed music group Shabazz Palaces and the arts collective Black Constellation. In the exhibition, you’ll also encounter large prayer rugs that honour Malcolm X, elaborate gowns that address the empowerment of women in India and First Nations women in Canada and Alaska, paintings that combine steel sculpture and calligraphy, and more!
Participants will enjoy this friendly and engaging introduction to the fascinating world of contemporary art and how it reflects the world around us. Alison Rajah and Cecily Nicholson will share information, stories, and reflections on the artwork of Nep Sidhu. Both regular tour participants and first-time gallery visitors are encouraged to ask questions and share their responses to the artworks.
About Cecily Nicholson
Cecily Nicholson is the administrator of Gallery Gachet and has worked with women of the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood of Vancouver since 2000. Her work, both creative and social, engages conditions of displacement, class, and gender violence. Nicholson is the author of Triage (Talonbooks, 2011) and From the Poplars (Talonbooks, 2014).
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