MakeRoom + Yonge-Dundas Square: Kindness & Community Care Collection

Hello Anson

Artist bio

Anson Ng is a mixed media painter and sculptor whose practice celebrates themes of nature, seasonality, and how they can change our perception of the mundane and the places we share. His process involves spending time immersed in the physical world painting outdoors and/or using found materials for his sculptures.

About the ArtwORK
Reflections of Chinatown

Reflections of Chinatown began at my parents' restaurant — growing up in a kitchen and the neighborhood of Chinatown on Spadina and Dundas. Having closed our restaurant many years ago, these artworks archive and capture other businesses using digital painting and photography. Highlighting the neighborhood's vibrancy and warmth, these depictions draw inspiration from the neon lights and rain.

Website: helloanson.com
Instagram: @hello.anson

Kanna Anigbogu

Artist bio 

Nigerian artist Kanna Anigbogu has a unique approach to linework and gestural imagery. His artwork fuses movement, playful experimentation, Igbo inspiration, and mystery to express imaginative tales that are full of mood, feeling and adventure.

About the ArtwORK
Black Joy

One of a series of four, Black Joy speaks of the most essential benefit of community: interaction. My inspiration for this piece include, friendship within the black community, the importance of which is noticed in one’s earliest years, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose artwork employs simple irreverent lines to emphasize deep relevant messaging.

Website: artbykanna.com
Instagram: @kingkxnna

Segun Caezar

Artist Bio

Segun Caezar, a Nigerian visual artist based in Canada, boldly blends vibrant colours, simple shapes, and realism to craft a compelling visual language. His work is guided by his vision of breaking down systemic barriers and elevating the narratives of the African people. Caezar's art challenges preconceived notions and fostering a more inclusive dialogue. His creations serve as a bridge between Canadian and African experiences, weaving a tapestry of shared humanity.

About the ArtwORK
Soul Sisters;
Kodu;
He She or they?

These works serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of kindness in fostering unity and empathy among individuals. Viewers are encouraged to reflect on their own roles within their communities and to consider the impact of their actions on others. Through meaningful conversations sparked by the artwork, it becomes a catalyst for building a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Website: icaezar.com
Instagram: @icaezar

Cristal Buemi

Artist Bio

Cristal Buemi is a Puerto Rican Canadian multidisciplinary artist (stop motion animation, video art, photography, collage and digital design). Her work pushes frame by frame boundaries by exploring the materiality and inherent beauty found in the minutia, through an experimental, and ecological lens. Her collaborative and individual works have been exhibited worldwide including: Animac, Harbourfront Centre’s CoMotion Festival, Fashion Art Toronto, and broadcasted on AMC and HBO. Cristal’s passion for creative expression has enabled her involvement in art education with various organizations such as OCADU, TIFF, TAIS, North York Arts, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada.

About the ArtwORK
Natural Self-Care

“Wabi-Sabi”- a theory derived from Buddhist teachings is focused on beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete” with a general appreciation of the integrity of natural objects and their processes. If we are able to truly be inspired by the beauty in “flaws” that surround us in the natural world, we can begin to make the same connection and effort for ourselves. This act of kindness can only begin within oneself. Borrowing from this concept, my work aims to highlight the importance of self-care, and self-love as an act of kindness to promote connectedness and healing within ourselves, community and our surroundings.

Website: cristalbuemi.com
Instagram: @cristaclear_

Ning Yang

Artist Bio

Ning is a Chinese-Canadian illustrator, designer and public artist. With an interest in culture, storytelling, and image-making, Ning uses her array of disciplines to work with clients in editorial illustration and visual identities design. She has illustrated for Noema magazine, Study Hall, gal-dem, and the Drift. Ning is a lifelong reader and first found herself studying illustration because of her fascination with magazine culture.

About the ArtwORK
Queering Death: We have the power to reimagine how we die and how we mourn

This piece celebrates resilience and it involves examining and challenging traditional societal norms, values, and practices related to death through a queer lens. I was inspired by the long horizontal format that hinted at queer history as a rich tapestry and completed my digital illustration in this format. Style wise I used broader and expressive brushes & mark-making to reflect the exuberance that can come from communities queering grief, bringing pleasure, community activism and a sense of freedom to the often traditional ritual of death care.

Website: ning-illo.com
Instagram: @7.ning

ABOUT MAKEROOM

MakeRoom Inc is an arts organization and curatorial agency that provides BIPOC and Emerging artists platforms to exhibit their work. We partner with organizations to develop funded opportunities for artists that are inclusive and community enriching. We achieve this by using practices that eliminate gatekeeping and nepotism from the curation process, and by actively involving members of the arts community.

Website: MakeRoom.me
Instagram: @makeroominc

ABOUT CURATOR

This collection was guest-curated by Jasmine Gui.

Jasmine Gui is a Singaporean-born interdisciplinary artist, arts programmer, and researcher based in Tkaronto. She works in paper, ceramics, tea and experimental book formats through an interdisciplinary arts and publishing space, Teh Studio. She is 1/4 of "a momo room" zine, and 1/2 of the creative duo, jabs.

Website: tehstudio.ca
Instagram: @jaziimun