<<PAST INSTALLATIONS>>
<<PAST INSTALLATION PROPOSALS>>
<<INSTALLATION SOUNDSCAPE SAMPLES>>
<<ARTIST STATEMENT>>
MY NAME IS WHYISHNAVE SUTHAGAR AND I AM AN INSTALLATION ARTIST BASED IN THE GTA. MY PRACTICE FOCUSES ON CREATING SITE SPECIFIC IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES USING BLACK LIGHT, THREAD AND ORIGINAL SOUNDSCAPES.
I RECEIVED MY BFA FROM MCMASTER'S SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, AND WAS A PART OF THE 14.0 REMIX PROJECT. TO DATE I’VE SHOWN MY WORK AT THE MCMASTER MUSEUM OF ART, MUCH MUSIC HQ, THE GLADSTONE HOTEL, MANIFESTO, THE DRAKE HOTEL, STACKT MARKET, THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART TORONTO, ARTSCAPE DANIELS LAUNCHPAD, THE TORONTO DISTILLERY DISTRICT AND TORONTO ARTS COUNCIL.
I AM A DAUGHTER OF TAMIL IMMIGRANTS WHO LEFT SRI LANKA FOR CANADA DUE TO THE MOST RECENT SRI LANKAN CIVIL WAR (1983-2009). MY WORK AIMS TO CREATE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN MY UPBRINGING AS BOTH A POST-WAR PRODUCT AND THE WESTERN CULTURAL LANDSCAPE I CALL HOME.
I USE LIGHT, SPACE AND SOUND TO SHARE THIS NARRATIVE. THROUGH MY NEW-MEDIA LIGHT INSTALLATIONS I DEPICT THE PASSED TRADITIONS OF MY ANCESTRY, REFERENCING FOR EXAMPLE: THE ANCIENT DRAWING FORM OF KOLAMS, THE NARRATIVES TOLD IN THE DANCE TRADITION OF BHARATANATYAM, AND THE STORIES OF MY FAMILY’S LIVES IN SRI LANKA (BOTH PRE-WAR & WAR ERA). THE SOUNDSCAPES I CREATE TO ACCOMPANY MY INSTALLATIONS REFERENCE CARNATIC MUSIC TRADITIONS THAT BOTH MY MOTHER AND GRAND MOTHERS HAVE TAUGHT ME - CROSSING THEM WITH PRESENT DAY SOUND DESIGN CONVENTIONS TO CREATE HYBRID SONIC WORKS.
THEMES I EXPLORE IN MY WORK INCLUDE ANCIENT MYTH, DREAMS, MEMORY, MENTAL HEALTH AND REFLECTION ON MY DUAL CULTURAL IDENTITY AS BOTH A SOUTH ASIAN AND CANADIAN.
<<EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE>>
April 2 0 1 7 - Lakshmi Installation for McMaster Thesis Project
McMaster Museum of Art/ Gallery Installation / Toronto, ON
Indoor wall installation. Curated by Svava Thordis Juliusson.
Jan. 2 0 1 8 Lucid Dreaming Installation for CUTMR Exhibition
The Gladstone Hotel / Event Installation / Toronto, ON
Immersive room installation with soundscape piece. Curated by Lukas Toane.
April. 2 0 1 8 Balance Installation for WIPP Toronto
Much Music HQ / Event Installation / Toronto, ON
Indoor wall installation.
August 2 0 1 8 Resonance Installation for Manifesto TO
Ossington Tire / Event Installation / Toronto, ON
16 ft by 16 ft wall installation. Curated by Ashley McKenzie.
Dec. 2 0 1 8 Invisible Cities 2 Installation for the Sky Yard
The Drake Hotel / Seasonal Installation / Toronto, ON
3 panel outdoor wall installation. Curated by Mia Nielsen.
April 2 0 1 9 Lotus Installation Series for Stackt Market
Stackt Market / Artist Residency / Toronto, ON
5 wall panels + 1 free standing installation. Curated by Jacquelyn West.
July 2 0 1 9 Novacane Installation for Banded Purple
MOCA / Event Installation / Toronto, ON
Free standing wall-size installation. Curated by Lauren Pirie.
Oct. 2 0 1 9 The Palace of Winds Installation for the Jaipur Festival
The Distillery District / Event Installation / Toronto, ON
Mounted wall-size installation. Curated by Jade Lee Hoy.
Nov. 2 0 1 9 Sun Showers Installation for HXOUSE Connections
Daniels Launchpad / Event Installation / Toronto, ON
Free standing wall-size installation. Curated by Patrica Yeboah.
Dec, 2 0 2 0 - Place(makers) Workshop - STEPS.
Lead a workshop series that facilitated making a public art
piece created by seniors of the Regent Park community.
(2020-Present) - Artscape Atelier - Daniels Corp.
Commissioned with team (pranavi and jasmine) to lead the development of
433 artisanal planters as welcome gifts for new members of Regent Park.
Dec, 2 0 2 0 - Toronto Arts Council - Independent ARTIST CATEGORY
Received the Individual - Visual Arts Grant from the TAC to
create a prototype installation for nuit blanche 2021?*
Jan, 2 0 2 1 - SKY AND COLOUR DIGITAL GALLERY
COLLABORATOR OF GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS FOR SAM MADHU’S “NIRVANA[EXE]” DIGITAL PIECE