By Sally Warburton
British artist Dame Sonia Boyce makes her Canadian debut in Toronto at the Art Gallery of Ontario – AGO this week. The installation combines video, collage, music and sculpture. Boyce is the recipient of the prestigious Golden Lion prize at the 2022 Venice Biennale. Media had the opportunity to hear her speak in conversation with Toronto Biennial of Art (TBA) curator Dominique Fontaine for a conversation about Boyce’s work to mark the opening of the exhibition, Sonia Boyce: Feeling Her Way. This was held in the centre communal area of the AGO at 1:30pm for media and then later at 7pm for ticketed AGO guests. She spoke in a candid and interesting way and was grateful for her audience’s interest and presence at the AGO. Fascinating to hear her speak about her career and exhibit. Her exhibit opens September 19th (and to the Public September 21st) at the AGO. This is part of Toronto Biennial of Art which runs September 21st to December 1st. @torontobiennial info@torontobiennial.org
Sonia Boyce’s exhibit entitled Feeling Her Way focuses on the vocal performances of four Black female musicians: Jacqui Dankworth, Poppy Ajudha, Sofia Jernberg, Tanita Tikaram in a visual and auditory experience. The 4 singers joined Sonia Boyce at Abbey Road Studios in London, England and Atlantis Studios in Stockholm. The singers were led by composer Errollyn Wallen to create this.
Colour-tinted videos along with immersive and tessellating wallpapers, created by Boyce, and golden 3D geometric structures plus a reflective display of music memorabilia. Seats of shiny silver and gold allow visitors to sit and reflect on the art exhibit. An honour to have Sonia Boyce’s work in Toronto. Hope you have the chance to see it at the AGO!
Sonia Boyce: Feeling Her Way is presented at the AGO in partnership with the Toronto Biennial of Art 2024. The Canadian presentation of Sonia Boyce: Feeling Her Way is initiated and organized by the PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art.
Sonia Boyce was an important figure in the Black Arts Movement in the early 1980s. She continues to address issues of race and gender in Britain. Her recent work explores the intersection of art and social practice. Using performance and audio-visual elements, she encourages collaboration, improvisation and participation to mesh the lines between artist and audience.
Some info on the Artist – Sonia Boyce DBE RA (born 1962) is a British interdisciplinary artist and academic working across film, drawing, photography, print, sound and installation.
In 2024, Boyce received an DBE for art services in the King’s New Year Honours List and holds Honorary Doctorates from the Royal College of Art, The Courtauld, and Birmingham City University, UK. Her work appears in the collections of many British and international museums, including the TATE in London, Saastamoinen Foundation in Helsinki, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
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