Category: Exhibitions 2024-2025

& Etc.

Bella Lánci and Jillian Fredrick

Callum Hunter

Katayoun Asadi & Alyssa Dupuis

Distorted by Katayoun Asadi and Alyssa Dupuis

The title, Distorted, comes from the distortion of reality, both with the use of mirrors and digital renderings. Included artworks invite and encourage viewers to reflect and theorize on what they see in the pieces with connection to reality.

The inclusion of mirrors and their respective canvases are inspired by reflection and reinterpreting reality, as each painting is either painted directly on a mirrored surface or made using them as a reference to create distorted versions of the surrounding world. This is carried over to other canvases presenting reconstructed variations of several art historical works which depict landscapes and still lives. The curation of all the pieces aims to question what makes artworks and objects recognizable, and what occurs when certain causal links are removed. By merging both mirrors and technological modifications with traditional methods of artistic representation, reality becomes deconstructed and stitched in intriguing ways.

About The Artists

Katayoun is a current Arts and Sciences student in her fourth year, minoring in Studio Art, Art History, and Biology. Mainly working with oil paints, she experiments with how digital alterations to art historical pieces alter the meaning and interpretation of the original works, and how changing the original colour palette, shape/size of canvases, and representational elements within pieces affect their recognizability.

Alyssa is a current Studio Arts major in her fourth year. Primarily working with oil paints, her work is largely autobiographical, dealing with themes of mental health and the search for meaning. Her work has a focus on how light and reflections can change the way we perceive things and alter memory.

Sage McKenna Manny Brinton

What makes us human?: Distorted Perception

“Something about me that most people don’t know is that I am partially colour-blind, specifically red/green colour-blind. I first discovered this when I was 16 in my grade 10 biology class. During our study of the eye, the textbook included colour-blind tests with coloured dots. The aim
was to identify the number in the middle of the dots. After attempting about ten of these tests, I could only see two or three of the numbers in the middle. So, I went to an eye doctor and underwent a test, which confirmed that I was colourblind. I can see red and green, but sometimes
they appear dull and diluted. I sometimes need help to differentiate between the two depending on the shade. Before discovering this, I had assumed everyone saw the world the same way I did. I love the colour blue and enjoy working with it because it has captivated me in an electrifying
and beautiful way.

Finding out that my perception of colour was different from other people was strange at first, but instead of viewing it as a burden, I’ve come to see it as a unique lens through which I experience
the world. My colour blindness has taught me that perception is not just about what we see. It is also about how we interpret and accept what we experience. Every single person views the world through their own unique lens. What may appear dull to one person could be extraordinary to
another, and vice versa. This difference in perspective doesn’t take away from the beauty which we behold; it enhances it. For me, blue has been a colour that speaks to me in ways other colours might not. It’s a reminder that even when our perception is “distorted,” there is beauty in how we
interpret the world around us.

Perception is not about how things are “supposed to” look but how we choose to see them. My hope is that my work inspires others to embrace their unique ways of seeing and to find meaning in what makes them different. Sometimes, it’s in those differences that we find our truth.”

Yiyue Zheng

Yiyue (Eva) Zheng is a photographer who captures the connections between people, nature, and emotions, focusing on the beauty in everyday life. She is always looking for new ways to share her perspective, exploring the layers of emotions and the complexities of human behaviour. Her work invites people to see beyond the surface and think about the hidden feelings and quiet struggles that shape who we are and how we connect with others.

“My photography explores the social pressures and expectations that shape how we present ourselves, especially in East Asian cultures where “saving face” is a major part of life. In these cultures, people often maintain a perfect public image, even if it means putting aside their own desires. For example, “giving face” can be seen when someone publicly praises another person to show respect, or when a person accepts praise to honour the respect given to them. On the other hand, “saving face” might mean someone stays quiet about their struggles to avoid appearing weak, while “losing face” could happen if they fail at something important and feel embarrassed in front of their family or community. 

In traditional families, what one person does often reflects on everyone. For example, a student might study for a career they do not want just to meet family expectations, avoiding “losing face” by not disappointing their parents. These pressures can cause people to hide their true feelings or give up their own goals to fit in with what others expect. 

In my work, I explore how trying to “save face” can lead to inner conflict and limit personal freedom. In my photos, the tablecloth symbolizes the polished and controlled image we show the world. It covers up deeper emotions, desires, and vulnerabilities, like putting on a brave face at work even if you are feeling anxious or acting cheerful at a family gathering when you are sad. Just like a tablecloth appears light, it is also resilient, showing the strength people use to adapt and meet expectations. 

I hope viewers reflect on their own “tablecloths”, the polished images they show to the world. By recognizing the ways we try to save face or avoid losing it, maybe we can start to be more honest about who we really are. “