is a participatory art series in which, over two years, a group of young Montrealers intervenes and responds to Dazibao’s exhibition programming, collaborating with each other and their mentor, artist Veronica Mockler.

À l’image — Takeover 1 Dialogic Exercise

In response to the exhibition Art of Research
with Stephanie Comilang, k.g. Guttman, Catherine Lescarbeau and Thérèse Mastroiacovo

À l'image — Takeover 1: Dialogic Exercise (2022). Camera: Destiny, Isha, Mei, Sanaa, Sasha, Shayah, Talayah, and Veronica

Preliminary presentation at Desta Black Community Network, where the artist and the young women who responded to her call for collaboration met for the first time.

Ideas by Destiny, Isha, Mei, Sanaa, Sasha, Shayah, Talayah and Veronica, put on paper by Mei.

Images: Emma-Kate (Dazibao)

SMS by Veronica to Destiny, Isha, Mei, Sanaa, Sasha, Shayah, and Talayah

Additional camera by Talayah

SMS between Sanaa and Veronica

Images: Talayah

Concept and camera by Destiny, Isha, Mei, Sanaa, Sasha, Shayah, Talayah and Veronica

Image: Emma-Kate (Dazibao)

Concept and camera by Destiny, Isha, Mei, Sanaa, Sasha, Shayah, Talayah and Veronica

Destiny Gbaniyi (b. 2009) is a high school student at École La Voie in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges. She aspires to become a lawyer by day and a sculpture artist by night. For the time being, Destiny is focused on continuing to win her dancing and swimming competitions. You should know that Destiny is not very talkative when you first meet her.

Isha Sheriff (b. 2006) is a 10th grader with a passion for art, baking and basketball. She loves and is proud of her Sierra Leonean heritage because it is a little-known culture in Québec.

Mei Gannon (b. 2000) grew up in the Little Burgundy community of Montreal. Known for her involvement as a Youth and Recreation Facilitator at Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre, Mei is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree at Concordia University. Her passion for helping those around her and her love for theatre led her to take Human Relations as a major, and Theater as a minor. In her spare time, Mei loves to indulge in creative projects.

Sanaa Bishop-Méus (b. 2005) is a young black artist from Montreal. Through painting, drawing and digital illustration, her work conveys the beauty of black women. The artist is interested in the representation of all shades, shapes and sizes of feminine Blackness. Sanaa's goal is to pursue a degree in Art and Business in Toronto.

Sasha Ferst (b. 2006) is a high school student who is contemplating a career as a nurse. Although she likes art, Sasha does not know if she would pursue it as her career. With the help of this opportunity, she hopes to open her mind to new possibilities.

Shayah Corbin (b. 2006) hopes, as part À l'image – Takeover, to share her point of view as a black teenager exploring her identity. Shayah is learning about the importance of perspective and open-mindedness. After graduating from high school, Shayah plans to study psychotherapy.

Talayah Rattray (b. 2003) is a university student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in biology and computer science. In addition to her studies, she enjoys creating art, both physical and digital. Talayah is involved in her community and works as a Facilitator at Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre in Little Burgundy.

Unless otherwise specified, all photographic and other documentation, footage and video capture, editing and sketches are by Veronica Mockler.

↩︎

The artist thanks Amanda Maxwell at Desta Black Community Network, as well as Ashley Montgomery and Vivek Venkatesh at Project Someone, Concordia University for their generous collaboration.

This project is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Ville de Montréal and the Gouvernement du Québec in the context of the Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal.

Dazibao thanks the artist and the participants for their generous collaboration as well as its advisory programming committee for its support.

Dazibao receives financial support from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and the Ville de Montréal.

Dazibao acknowledges that it is located on the unceded territory of the Kanien'kehá: ka Nation and that Tiohtiá:ke / Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations, and today, is home to a diverse population of Indigenous as well as other peoples. Guided by ethics of respect, listening, and awareness, Dazibao commits to a continued reflection regarding the deep-rooted and systemic challenges tied to accessibility and inclusivity in the arts and beyond, and endeavors to apply such reflections to all aspects of its activities and governance.