Projection from a past BigArtTO event. Photo credit: Aga Khan Museum
A powerhouse of OCAD University student and alum work will be on a mesmerizing light display at the Aga Khan Museum at the end of the month!
OCAD U students and alum will be featured in the free Light Up the Dark event at the prominent museum from December 27 to 29 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. each evening. The animations and projections will be on display across the museum’s west façade, accompanied by a score composed by Humber College students.
Untitled work by Ghazal Tahernia.
“OCAD U's collaboration with the Aga Khan Museum is a continuation of a series of public projection works done through the BigArtTO project in 2020 and 2021,” says Philippe Blanchard, Chair of the University’s Experimental Animation program.
This work is inspired by “the importance of light in Islamic art and culture, and the desire to have a cultural exchange with the Toronto community,” according to Blanchard.
The OCAD U artists behind Light Up the Dark are students and graduates from Experimental Animation, Drawing and Painting, Digital Painting and Expanded Animation, and graduates from the Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media and Design.
These include: Mohammad Abdullah, Liliya Eruysal, Rebecca Van Fraassen, Justyna Janik, Kim Luong, Gabriel Masewich, Nikole McGregor, Mahnaz Nezarati, Eli Schwanz and Ghazal Tahernia.
Lovelorn by Liliya Eruysal.
“The pieces we observed as a group at the Aga Khan Museum inspired my work, Lovelorn,” says Liliya Eruysal, fourth year Experimental Animation student.
“My inspiration specifically came from a piece called Shirin Before her Bath, I took the imagery within this drawing and tied it with the tragic love story it is depicting (Shirin and Khosrow). My themes focus on being blinded by love, which are shown through the peaceful atmosphere Shirin is surrounded by.”
Mirror of the Stars by Rebecca Van Frassen.
“My work entitled Mirror of the Stars is a hand-drawn animation inspired by the Planispheric Astrolabe on display at the Aga Khan Museum,” says alum Rebecca Van Fraassen.
“OCAD U provides opportunities for students to participate in large scale exhibitions such as working with the Aga Khan Museum. Not only do opportunities for young artists to collaborate and share their work provide professional experiences for students but also they also help us build connections in the creative industr
Light Up the Dark reveals the surprising interconnections between the cultures represented in the museum's collections and artistic traditions from around the world.
In addition, the display celebrates the different masterpieces in the museum’s collections—from a 400-year-old marble and sandstone fountain to lushly detailed manuscript paintings from 16th century Iran.
Lines, Planes and Bodies by Justyna Janick.
“Light Up the Dark is the culmination of an exciting partnership with OCAD University that allows us to bring our communities together and showcase the Museum Collection in new ways,” says Sascha Priewe, Director, Collections and Public Programs at the Aga Khan Museum.
“This collaboration also provides us with the opportunity to connect and work with innovative young artists to foster mutual understanding through the arts with immersive and creative experiences that engage all ages."
Light Up the Dark is an event where visitors can enjoy the outdoor projections for free, see pop-up performances and sample a selection of evening bites inspired by the flavours of South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa by Diwan, the Museum’s renowned restaurant.