A departure at the AGO
Plus, a round-up of my Instagram saves
I went to Ella Gonzales’s opening at Galerie Nicolas Robert in Toronto last night, and it was packed. The garage door windows started fogging in that comforting way it does when the inside is warmer than the chilly exterior. It makes sense I left thinking about architecture, the central motif of Gonzales’s work. The sculptural-architectural elements of the work are becoming more apparent—into it! The show is up until December 23rd.
If you’ve been on Instagram this week, you’ve probably heard that Wanda Nanibush has left the AGO under ambiguous circumstances. The anonymous account @as_you_likely_heard has been documenting what’s happening—including a leaked complaint from the Israel Museum and Arts, Canada to the AGO about Nanibush’s position on Israel/Palestine. The next post on the account is an email announcing Nanibush’s departure from the AGO. Readers can come to their own conclusions about what happened between these two emails. Nanibush or the AGO have not commented publicly on the matter.
More on the situation here via Hyperallergic.
I feel so much anger. The combination of censorship and hypocrisy is dangerous, especially in the art world. What does the AGO mean when it starts every event with a land acknowledgement? What about their commitment to diversity and “reconciliation” that follows their website's land acknowledgment? It all rings hollow. We see where the power continues to lay. Of course, we aren’t surprised, but it should be setting off alarm bells on the reality of the Canadian art world.
A comment from Bryne McLaughlin outlines equally troubling censorship that apparently happened at Canadian Art. I reported on the magazine’s closing for a few months and heard many similar stories.
Through the anger, it’s important to celebrate the impact Wanda Nanibush has had—and will continue to have. Last month, she won the 2023 Toronto Book Award alongside Georgiana Uhlyarik for their book Moving the Museum. “The volume reflects the nation-to-nation treaty relationship that is the foundation of Canada, asking questions, discovering truths, and leading conversations that address the weight of history and colonialism.” You can order here.
Congratulations Kablusiak for winning the 2023 Sobey Prize!!
Artwork I saw this week on Instagram and saved:
Until next week, x Tatum