Matchbox 2016-2017 Inventory of Memory
Look above, see below, and peer inside… Told Again is a travelling group exhibition that reclaims moments from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. The exhibition features miniaturized narrative moments from Andersen’s well-known stories––the Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, Ugly Duckling, Snow Queen, ––and from his lesser known tales––the Nightingale, Flying Trunk, and Matchstick Girl. The artists Dana Lynn Harper, Sheila Jonah, Jessica Bartram, Hamza Mahjoub & Julie- Ann Déry, Liane Wong, Amélie Bissonnette, Natalie Draz, Hea Kim & Jon Park and David Stormer –have condensed favorite stories into a common household item, the matchbox. This book-like object re-ignites story-time adventures with childhood memories, strong female characters, and a flare for hope in another wise dreary world. - Curatorial Statement by Dr. Rachel Harris
a small catalogue for the matchbox
Exhibition : June 2017 Upstairs Gallery, Distillery District, Toronto
David Stomer Matchstick Field Guide (Little Matchstick Girl) In ‘The Little Matchstick Girl’, matches are the survival and salvation of the little matchstick girl. My field guide contains the matches required for survival and salvation in the form of flammable scrolls to be burnt in times of need. A length of rope is a handy escape in case one is surrounded by fire. David Stormer is a musician, maker and writer. Fascinated by the intersection of spirituality and folklore, his research explores fairytales, symbolism and the relationship of geography and its related local beliefs and music. facebook.com/david.stamnesleslie
Sheila Jonah (Flying Trunk) In the 1886 tale by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Flying Trunk� a young Turkish romantic travel to find his love (appropriately a princess) and win her with his fabulous storytelling skills. This Flying Trunk is outfitted with magical tools such as a divining rod, an all-seeing orb, a magic carpet and a secret key. Practical objects include a map, a travel journal and of course a teapot for afternoon relaxation. Those who fly must be realistic yet always open to the possibility of magic and adventure. Sheila Jonah is a visual artist working in photography, printmaking and book making. As someone who has moved many times the idea of a totally outfitted Flying Trunk resonates for her. instagram.com/sheilajonah
Hamza & Julie-Ann DÊry Floating Passions (Little Mermaid) The drawing represents the little mermaid’s perception toward her natural world. Coming from deep seas, she wishes to get closer up to the sun and crystallize her desire through the prince, as a form of salvation. Hamza Mahjoub, in spite of his filmmaking training, develops his artistic style through multiple mediums, such as painting, and creative writing. He is strongly influenced by folkloric narratives and tales, which refers to primal desires of human beings. hamzamahjoub10@gmail.com Julie-Ann DÊry works with ceramic and has a big interest in exploring the materiality of clay and pushing its boundaries. julieann.der@gmail.com
Jessica Bartram A Field Guide to Little Mermaids A Field Guide to Little Mermaids is a collection of the smallest mermaids to be found in Earth’s waters. While Hans Christian Andersen’s own Little Mermaid is small compared to the Whale Shark Mermaid or the Colossal Squid Mermaid, she’s a giant compared to the mermaids showcased in the Field Guide. Jessica Bromley Bartram is an illustrator, graphic designer, writer/artist for her own weird books, embroiderer, and witch/mermaid enthusiast. She has a beagle-shaped familiar named Eleanor and lives eastwards where she works in a studio filled with tiny treasures and houseplants. jessicabartram.ca jbbartram-illu.tumblr.com.
Amélie Bissonnette Reworking Fairy Tales Hans Christian Andersen’s Thumbelina conveys that females are weak and must get married to be safe from abuse. Reminiscent of trading card games, my artwork depicts Thumbelina as a resilient hero with a 21 st century mindset, who meets allies and foes during her quest. Most of the illustrations and backgrounds are ceramics pieces that I made, photographed and arranged digitally. Amélie Bissonnette is a ceramicist-illustrator. She handbuilds detailed earthenware pieces and combines them playfully to suggest narratives and a sense of wonder. Initially interested in illustrating children’s books, Amélie fell in love with ceramics while completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Concordia University. Her creations are sometimes presented through photography. ameliebissonnette.com instagram.com/ameliebissonnetteart
Jon P. & Hea R. Kim Tangible Melody (The Nightingale) The story is about a Chinese emperor who prefers the tinkling of a decorated mechanical bird to the song of a real nightingale. Borrowing Chinoiserie aesthetics, Tangible Melody is the hand craft (drawing and fibres) constructive piece that enhances the beauty of handmade ornamentation. While the technology and machines have become prominent roles in our lives the process of making the piece is about seeking and collaborating with the beauty of traditional craft. Jon and Hea are a South Korean born dynamic duo, partners in life as well as creativity. Jon’s delicate illustration skills are matched by Hea’s water colouring, fibres, and ceramics. jon-p.weebly.com / heakim.weebly.com
Dana Lynn Harper The ‘Ugly’ Duckling The mirrored sleeve represents the flock of ducklings having empathy for the “ugly” duckling; seeing themselves in her, rather than judging her for her short comings. Rather than the duckling experiencing a physical transformation, she experiences one of spirit. The duckling inside the box blooms when it is opened, spreading her wings to reveal a bright shiny center. The layers of pinks and purples are representations of the heart and third eye chakra, with the holographic center being the crown chakra Harper holds a BFA from The Ohio State University in 2009. She was the recipient of The Bunton Waller Fellowship from Penn State University, where Harper received her MFA in 2013. Harper was awarded an ArtPrize Seed Grant, 2014 ArtFile Emerging Artist Grant, a Ringholz Foundation Award as well as an Ohio Arts Council Professional Award. Harper has been an artist in residence at Women’s Studio Workshop, Teton Art Lab, Bunker Projects and Second Sight Studio. danalynnharper.com instagram.com/danalynnharper
Liane Wong The Lonely Cygnet “The Lonely Cygnet� looks at the persistence of vanity in society and how to diminish its effects. The contents of the fragile, transparent box focus on a tactile experience and invite active participation, inciting compassion for the cygnet on display. Through printed, poetic instructions and clay provided in the yellow bag, one is encouraged to end the cygnet’s ostracization. Liane Wong is predominantly a 2D artist. She studied illustration at Dawson College and design at Concordia University in Montreal. She has explored themes of cultural identity, diversity, and societal norms in her work, at times expressing these themes directly, and at other times adding a layer of the surreal or quirky.
Natalie Draz Always Sleep With a Knife: Advice from Fairytales The fairytale ‘The Snow Queen’ tale follows the journey of a young woman who gathers both advice and useful objects from a range of powerful women to banish a world full of negativity and hopelessness. Facing setbacks and powerful foes, nevertheless she persisted. Gathering together the advice and magical objects, my matchbox is a toolkit for finding hope and possibility in the face of adversity. Natalie Draz is a paper artist working with pop up and kinetic illustrations. Creating artist books, installations and large-scale illustrations, she is creating her own fantastical universe, one paper neighbourhood at a time. nataliedraz.com instagram.com/nataliedraz
Dana Lynn Harper
Liane Wong
Jessica Bartram
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Jessica Bartram Liane Wong
Dana Lynn Harper
Jon P. & Hea Kim
All the process images from the selected artists AmĂŠlie Bissonnette
Julie-Ann DĂŠry
Installation view of the exhibition Exhibition : June 2017 Upstairs Gallery, Distillery District, Toronto
Inventory of Memory Natalie Draz, Hea R. Kim (co-founder & co-curator) @inventoryofmemory catalogue design (illustration & layout) by Jon P. @jon_p_art