Through the Ground Glass: Reframing William James Topley
June 21, 2024 - February 9, 2025
Lori Blondeau, Chun Hua Catherine Dong, Anique Jordan, Neeko Paluzzi, Adrian Stimson, Geneviève Thauvette
Through the Ground Glass is a dialogue between the work of historical Ottawa photographer William James Topley and six contemporary artists. These artists engage with image manipulation, hauntology, costumes and theatricality to subvert narratives and reclaim power through portraiture. Topley’s use of the composite technique (akin to cut-and-paste collage) demonstrates photography’s ability to craft powerful narratives. Similarly, the contemporary artists in this exhibition harness the principle of this technique to resist, reconstruct and critique, in order to catalyze new realities.
Curator: Rebecca Basciano
Curatorial Assistance: Meghan Ho
Institutional Lenders and Partners: Bytown Museum, Canadian Museum of History, Library and Archives Canada, MacKenzie Art Gallery, National Gallery of Canada
The Ottawa Art Gallery would like to acknowledge the support of the City of Ottawa, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.