About the Work

My goal with this installation was to initiate a collective experience. In this approach, rather than inviting the viewers to an installation that was already finished and asking them to find their role within it, I decided to involve everyone from the start. 

I was initially inspired by the history of birthdays and their evolution or de-evolution from a monumental event which celebrates royalty, to its modern form which celebrates any and everybody, regardless of who they are. This led to considering parties and celebrations in general, which are meant to commemorate a certain moment in time, an achievement or a person. Oftentimes there is an unspoken structure to a party, starting with guest arrival, then meal time and concluding with a cake cutting. There is an expectation, anticipation for the trajectory of the event which I wanted to manipulate in my work - causing confusion between excitement and anticlimax. 

My approach aims to reject the idea of a party as solely a commemorative event. Instead, it focuses on the fleeting moments that often go uncelebrated, the excitement of throwing streamers and blowing balloons, even the simple joy of spending time with friends. These are moments that we may not fully appreciate while in motion but occupy space in our lives and memories.

 By using dollar store party supplies I wanted this experience to feel both familiar and impersonal, including imagery that the viewers recognize such as balloons and party hats yet lacking context of what is actually being celebrated. Overall I hoped to create a hollow monument, disguising daily life as an event worthy of a party even when there is not necessarily anything to celebrate.

About the Work

A decade ago, the future of Toronto’s transit seemed incredible. New designs for subways and train lines were proposed, deadlines were set. There were grand promises made to connect the city together and get us from place to place without slowing down. Over the years we have seen both promises and train lines fall apart. As I rely on transit for my daily commute I feel now the pressure placed on these dysfunctional and overburdened systems and find it hard to hope for more. 

In attempts to stay optimistic, my goal with this installation was to reframe the act of commuting from a tedious and repetitive act to something meditative. During my daily rides to and from the city, I had taken great interest in the places I saw between. The view changes so greatly from station to station that after two and a half years I no longer need the periodical announcements to know exactly where I am. It became second nature.

Passing through many industrial areas, the Stouffville train line is surrounded by construction material, both from works in progress and works abandoned. One ride would not be enough to witness any changes, but with time, both progress and regressions become strikingly evident.  

Tying these thoughts together, I decided to create a transit garden. This is a place where one neither departs or arrives but remains suspended in time and motion, exploring ‘moments of between’ experienced during the commute. Spatially, I was inspired by Japanese rock gardens and their timeless qualities using minimal elements. I employed the textile techniques of pleating and weaving which are repetitive, back and forth processes in harmony with hard materials found along the train line. Each stone or plank features a different pattern symbolizing visual aspects of transit and planning such as grids and intersections, together weaving an intricate urban fabric. Overall the garden is meant to mimic the commute experience in being contemplative and reflective despite the cacophonous sound of the train. 

As time in transit continues to occupy the lives of Torontonians it makes me wonder how we can make the most of the time that our politicians and planners may never value for us. We focus so much on what happens at arrival that we miss something marvellous in the motion and duration of the journey itself.