Durational Performance with Natalie Waldburger
Wednesday, September 11, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Discover the mesmerizing world of tessellated origami, where geometry and art collide in a dance of precision and beauty through a 4-hour durational performance with Natalie Waldburger at Onsite Gallery!
Tessellation, in geometric terms, refers to the seamless coverage of an infinite plane with a repeatable pattern, without gaps or overlaps. This fascinating concept forms the foundation of tessellated origami, an abstract geometric art that transforms a single sheet of paper into a stunning array of repeated folds.
Waldburger’s large-scale origami tessellation sculptures bring this art form to life, documenting the intricate and physically demanding process of folding. Each piece emphasizes the tension between the structural rigidity of the paper and its ephemeral nature. The hours-long performance of creating these large-scale tessellations, featuring a larger-than-life image of the artist, highlights the collision between abstract, idealized geometric forms and the tangible reality of the material, capturing the ever-present potential for failure.
The image on the paper portrays the artist within the space of the performance, offering a profound commentary on her place within institutional contexts and the struggles of a racialized body. This unconventional medium serves as a poignant allegory for the racialized body's experience within colonial institutions, emphasizing the tumultuous process of creation over the final piece. Waldburger’s sculptures stand as both aesthetic explorations and profound commentaries on struggle, resistance, and the complexities of identity formation within restrictive paradigms.
Experience the captivating artistry and deep narratives embedded in Waldburger’s origami tessellation sculptures and immerse yourself in the beauty and thought-provoking themes they present.
Onsite Gallery is generously supported by The Delaney Family.
Image Credit: _other tongues part I communication, 2024, Onsite Gallery, OCAD University, Toronto. Installation view. Natalie Majaba Waldburger, Tesselation 06.06.23, 2023, Tessellated origami: Physical documentation of performance at the Banff Centre for the Arts in June 2023, Awagami Kozo paper, pins, dimensions variable. Photo by Polina Teif.
