Ottawa School of Art

2009 VISITING ARTIST

THE CANADIANA MARTYRDOM SERIES | DIANA THORNEYCROFT

Martyrdom of the Great One, The Canadiana Martyrdom Series by Diana Thorneycroft, 2005

www.martyrdom.ca

ARTIST STATEMENT

From 2001-2002 I completed a series called Martyrs Murder. The final image for that series was The Martyrdom of St. Nicholas. The photograph depicts Santa Claus on a cross in an idyllic Canadian winter landscape.

The ideas contained within The Martyrdom of St. Nicholas lead me to The Canadiana Martyrdom Series. My strategy for these photographs was to use paraphernalia that is quintessentially Canadian: landscapes obtained from calendars and tourism posters (e.g. panoramic vistas of the Rockies or the wheat fields of Saskatchewan), Canadian "icons" like Anne of Green Gables, the RCMP, hockey players and Bob and Doug MacKenzie, and animals associated with the north, such as polar bears, elk, moose, beavers and howling wolves. The photographs still depict spectacles of violence; martyrs continue to die, and the audience, both animal and human, still bear witness to the crimes being committed, but the narratives, now absurdly "Canadiana", are more ambiguous and layered than previous work. The content no longer refers to specific Christian martyrs but to tourism, national identity, Canadian culture and industry. The work also addresses issues about apathy (how life goes on despite the violence around us), and the way in which murder is used as a form of entertainment (note the popularity of the TV show CSI). I'm also curious how humour functions when it comes to images of human suffering, and whether it is possible to suspend disbelief when viewing the torture of plastic dolls.

– Diana Thorneycroft

WHEN

Works will be on display from | Les œuvres seront exposées du :
October 15 – November 22, 2009 | 15 octobre au 22 novembre 2009

Free to the public – Everyone welcome! | Admission gratuite / Bienvenue à tous!


WHERE

OSA Gallery [35 George St. ByWard Market]

   

PREVIOUS VISITING ARTIST LIST

The following artists, art writers/critics and gallery owners/directors have visited the School since 1988. They have given lectures on their work, demonstrations and workshops.

Exhibiting Canadian Artists:

Graeme Patterson (2008), Joanne Poitras (2002), Frank Nulf (2001), Jeff de Boer (1999), Eliza Griffiths (1997), Ghita Caiserman-Roth (1996), Jack Cowin (1995), Elaine Ling (1995), David Rokeby (1995), David Hlynsky (1994), Mattiuisi Iyaituk (1994), Oopik Pitsiulak (1994), Uriash Puqiknaq (1994), Natar Ungalaq (1994), Edward Poitras (1993), Betty Goodwin (1993), Eleanor Bond (1992), Jan Carbert (1992), Marlene MacCallum (1992), John McKewen (1991), Joe Fafard (1990), Joyce Weiland (1990) and Joane Cardinal-Schubert (1989).

Exhibiting International Artists:

Devorah Sperber (2007 - U.S.A.), Victor Hernandez Castillo (2006 - Mexico), Shane Cooper (2005 - New Zealand), Paola Vezzani (2004 – Chile), Zhang Guoen (1997 - China), Shubhika Lal (1997 - India), Julio Velazquez Ronda (1995 - Cuba), Claire Van Vliet (1994 - USA), Marie Foley (1993 - Ireland), Shen Hong Yin (1992 - China), Mario Cravo-Neto (1992 - Brazil), Toshihisa Fudezuka (1992 - Japan), Mikihiro Nishimatsu (1990 - Japan), Lynn Forgach (1989 - USA) and Valter Ponté (1989 - Brazil).

Lecturing Canadian Artists:

Pitaloosie Saila (1998), Douglas Curran (1995), Alex Colville (1992), Medrie MacPhee (1990), Francine Simonin (1989), Olga Korper (1989).

Lecturing International Artists:

Eduardo Leyvas (2002 - Cuba), Mina Takahashi (1996 - US), Daniel McCubbin (1996 - Australia), Jacques Muron (1994 - France), Suzi Gablik (1994 - USA), Anapum Sud (1990 - India).