Mexican artist presents art exhibition in Toronto

Mexican

artist Betsabeé Romero , who is known for her large-scale art installations, staged an exhibition at the Art Gallery of York University , in Toronto , titled “Trenzando raíces” ( Braided roots) , in collaboration with First Nation Canadians.

The Mexican artist worked for two months, in collaboration with indigenous women from New Credit First Nation and art students from York University , in order to create six pieces, which have been exhibited at the AGYU Gallery since September 13.

Romero

said that “this is a step forward” in her artistic trajectory and that she enjoyed working with First Nations from Canada , and with art students from York University.

“This was a very peculiar encounter for me because the students participated in the production, and a group of indigenous people taught a workshop on how to create a drum, which is the center of one of the pieces”, she said.

She explained that this exhibition reaffirms her concern about the dignity of i ndigenous communities around the world.

“It's not talking about them, but with them, from the piece itself. We work with the idea of giving visibility to their values, through the signs that can be found in highways”, said the plastic artist.

She explained that she spent time with First Nation Canadians, in their communities and that “we talked every weekend and we made drawings to see how much did they identified themselves with my understanding of their values, and it was very exciting for me”.

In fact, they asked for one of her pieces, to place it on their ceremonial center in Mississauga .

The exhibition “ Trenzando raíces/Braided roots ” was curated by Emelie Chhangur and Cathie Jamieson .

The exhibition will be open until December 2, at the York University Art Gallery .

Mexican violinist awarded the "Distinguished Mexican Prize"

gm