Paige Bowen

We exist in a space of hybridity – where the everyday has become determined by the technological world. The margins between natural and artificial have blurred. What was once genuine is now feeling more illusory. Rather than fighting this dichotomy, why not accept their inevitable fusion? As the rate of change increases, discomfort and unease become commonplace. Do we recognize that the physical and digitized landscapes are indistinguishable? They are merged, mirroring one another, reflecting the parallel processes of life and expansion, heavily influenced by the complexities of the political and social spheres, dependent on human advancement. The separation of the natural and the artificial is no longer distinct but woven together, inevitably accelerating towards an uncertain and nebulous future. 

Written by Co-curators Paige Bowen and Francis Pitsadiotis

Exhibiting Artists:

Judith Librach – Timo Cheah – Andria Keen – Raven Myers – Vismay Sanghavi – Seamus McVey Neufeld – Deepikah R Bhardwaj – Darren Souvannavong

Performance Artists:

Zubin Isaac – Sari Cheah

Co-curators

Paige Bowen & Francis Pitsadiotis

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Press Release as written by Co-Curator Paige Bowen

Running from July 30th to August 17th at Propeller Art Gallery, the exhibition Below Our Feet and Above Our Heads explores the merging of natural and artificial spheres. Through the generous sponsorship of the Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts, this exhibition is the result of the gallery’s “Budding Curators Program,” designed to uplift the work of Emerging Curators Francis Pitsadiotis and Paige Bowen, with the mentorship support by curator Selin Kahramanoğlu, who previously curated The New Reality exhibition by William Lottering at Propeller, July 2024.

Through a variety of mediums, including printmaking, painting, installation, animation, and performance, Below Our Feet and Above Our Heads features ten impactful artists: Deepikah R Bhardwaj, Sari Cheah, Timo Cheah, Zubin Isaac, Andria Keen, Judith Librach, Seamus McVey Neufeld, Raven Myers, Vismay Sanghavi, and Daren Souvannavong. In-gallery sound provided by Zubin Isaac. 

Please join us for our Opening Reception on Thursday, July 31st, from 6 – 9 pm. The welcome speech will take place at 7 pm, followed by a performance from artist Sari Cheah. Members and visitors are also invited to join us for two exhibition programs. On Saturday, August 9th, from 6 – 8 pm, Performance Night will feature a selection of artists commenting on the exhibition theme through interpretive movement, an audio-visual performance, and poetry. To conclude our show, an Artist Panel Discussion will be held on August 17th, 1 – 4 pm, where artists will discuss the exhibition themes, their artwork, and individual practices. 

Promotional Material and Exhibition Publication:

Opening Reception Images

Thank you to Selin Kahramanoğlu, the team at Propeller Art Gallery, and the Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts for their mentorship and funding that helped bring this project to life.