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 Sound, Energy, and Heat

In response to the exhibitions Warmer Than The World Around Us by Judy Radul and Song Circle by Anne-Renée Hotte.

Shayah

Shayah’s little sister, Arayah (10 years old) is channeling her energy with the following songs:

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

↘︎ Turn Your Lights Down Low — Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill

↘︎ Come Over — Melvitto & Gabzy

↘︎ Gimme Likkle One Drop — Tarrus Riley

Sanaa

Sasha

It never

changes

but always

appears

differently

This small photo-essay showcases the view I have from my balcony of the ever-changing sky at different times of the day. In a sense, this particular portion of the sky feels like it’s always with me. As I return to the same place, to capture the same sky, from the same camera frame, I realize that I am not experiencing sameness, but rather contrast.

Destiny

1st part

What does seeing sound like?
It sounds like the sun.
What does the sun sound like?

The sun sounds like the crunch of your favorite chips…
it sounds like the cry of a new born baby…
it's a hard knock on your door.

2nd part

3rd part

Destiny, her mother Blessing, and Veronica gathered at the Acts of Listening Lab at Concordia University to explore different sound technologies and listening practices. Destiny had expressed to Veronica her desire to record sound for her response to Radul’s and Hotte’s pieces. After taking a walk around the university’s bustling downtown campus, Veronica invited Destiny to pay attention to the different soundscapes she was passing through with her audio recorder, which led to an impromptu and embodied sounding performance with their steps. The artist then led Destiny and Blessing into a listening exercise, during which the three women explored questions such as "What does history sound like?" and "What does seeing sound like?"

Talayah

I remember Veronica saying the following when we were discussing Judy Radul’s Warmer Than The World Around Us:

We are not familiar with these traditional South Korean instruments, sounds, and beliefs. This raises an important question: should an artwork only speak to its own culture? Or can other cultures relate to an artwork or art form?

I think that artists are entitled to create for whoever they choose. Most art is personal to the person creating it. If an individual, such as myself, finds it hard to relate to a piece, that is not the fault of the artist. Maybe it wasn’t created for me. It is similar to when a group of friends listens to music on a road trip. If you’re sitting shotgun, you control the music. You want to play something that everyone likes, but you’re limited to what you have on your phone. For my experiment, I wanted to draw the energy I feel when listening to some of my favorite songs. I thought it could be a cool idea as, for me, it speaks to the colors, energies and music at stake in Radul’s piece.

At first, I wanted to ask people from my community to participate in this activity with me, but due to the challenge of participation, including time constraints and my exam season (it’s my first semester in university!), I ended up doing it by myself. I created a playlist of songs that always bring out the strongest energies in me. Because I only gave myself the length of each song to draw the energies I was feeling, I decided to use a small white cardstock, of 6x4 inches. I love listening to music all the time; when I clean, when I cook, when I ride the shuttle bus to and from school, even in the shower. I have a total of 16 playlist including a 2000s playlist with music from my childhood, a Christmas playlist, and a playlist celebrating Black culture.

In my À l’image – Takeover 3 playlist, I have the following songs:

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

Isha

Isha's contribution in response to Radul and Hotte's pieces is purely aural. Please follow the link to her SoundCloud track.

Mei

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. For this third À l'image — Takeover, the artist would also like to thank Concordia University's Acts of Listening Lab.

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 her collaborators 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.