The Lowest Relief | Maria Flawia Litwin
August 21–September 27, 2015
TYPOLOGY launches its Fall 2015 season with an intimate solo exhibition of art by Maria Flawia Litwin, curated by Katherine Dennis. In this new body of work, Litwin uses wycinanki (pronounced vih-chee-nahn-kee), a Polish paper cutting tradition, to weave stories layered with personal memories, social history, symbolism and mythology. Each work stems from a significant autobiographical detail in the artist’s life. Yet the illustrations are stripped of overt personal narrative. The focus instead is on quintessential life experiences — those as simple and complex as birth and death, and as fleeting or all encompassing as love, alienation, pain, fear or passion — that transcend gender, geography and culture.
Whimsical but touched with dark humour, the complex cuts, colours and patterns draw the eye in. Through these intricate details we are eased into the absurdity of memory, a space where the recollections of the artist become a jumping off point for the experiences of the viewer. The fantastical vignettes, filled with elaborate costumes from Polish folk to Canadian plaid, and animal and human actors ranging from a murder of crows to an armed attacker or gentle lover, unsettle and disturb as much as they delight.
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We will have two public receptions for this exhibition!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 6–8 PM : Summer Opening Reception with the Curator and Artist
and
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 6–8 PM : Fall Season Kickoff Celebration with the Artist
(coinciding with Koffler Gallery’s exhibition opening on the ground floor)
Refreshments will be served and all are welcome.
TYPOLOGY Projects
No. 302, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
See Google map of location
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About the Artist
Maria Flawia Litwin is a visual artist who grew up in both Poland and Australia, straddling the Iron Curtain. She has spent the last eighteen years living and working in Toronto. Encounters with communist and consumer ideologies within social and educational structures have made Litwin sensitive to the fluid and shifting nature of belief systems. She is particularly concerned with the way changes in ideology manifest themselves in her figurative and literal environment. Marxism, feminism and humour have greatly impacted her art production. Although trained as a sculptor, Litwin’s work is not medium specific and takes the form of textiles, data collecting, performance, acting, video, photography, and fiction writing. Litwin holds a BFA from the Ontario College of Art & Design and a Master’s degree from York University in Toronto.
About the Curator
Katherine Dennis, a Vancouver-based curator and researcher, has worked with a range of institutions, from historic houses to public museums and independent galleries. Her practice bridges disciplines including exhibition making, public programming and visitor studies, and places such as British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Currently, Dennis is Adult Public Programs Coordinator at the Vancouver Art Gallery and Research Associate at Pivotal Research Inc.
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More information on related upcoming events coming soon. Subscribe to our blog at typology.ca/blog for updates and invitations to future events and exhibitions.
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image: Maria Flawia Litwin, Anima (detail), 2015
Events
Please join us for the following exhibiton-related events. Click below for more info.
Opening Reception and Edition Launch : Friday, August 21, 2015 / 6–8 pm
Join us for the mid-summer opening of our fall exhibition, The Lowest Relief | Maria Flawia Litwin, curated by Katherine Dennis.
For this exhibition, Litwin has produced a wonderful suite of ten unique compositions crafted from hand-cut paper, making this a very special limited edition, the ninth in our series of affordable artworks produced in collaboration with exhibiting artists.
A prototype of the exhibition catalogue with original curatorial essay by Katherine Dennis and interview with the artist by Caiomhe Morgan-Feir will also be available for viewing and preorder.
The curator and artist will be in attendance and refreshments will be served. All are welcome.
Reception date and time
Friday, August 21, 2015 from 6–8 pm
Event location
TYPOLOGY
180 Shaw Street, No. 302, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
See Google map of location
We look forward to seeing you!
Afternoon with the Artist : Saturday, August 29, 2015 / 12–5 pm
Drop in anytime from 12–5 pm for refreshments and casual conversation with Maria Flawia Litwin, who will be at the project space to discuss her exhibition and answer questions about her art and process.
Date and time
Saturday, August 29, 2015 from 12—5 pm
Location
TYPOLOGY
180 Shaw Street, No. 302, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
See Google map of location
Fall Kickoff Celebration and Catalogue Launch : Thursday, September 17, 2015 / 6–8 pm
Please join us to kick off TYPOLOGY’s third year with a celebratory reception and catalogue launch for The Lowest Relief | Maria Flawia Litwin.
Featuring an original essay by exhibition curator Katherine Dennis, an artist interview by Caiomhe Morgan-Feir, and superb photographs of all the works on view, our newest publication will be signed by the artist and available for viewing and purchase.
Also joining us from Poland will be musician Ewelina Ferenc, courtesy of Toronto-based Kosa Kolektiv, for Eastern European song throughout the evening!
The building will be abuzz with Artscape Youngplace‘s RECESS community open house, Koffler Gallery’s opening for Isabel Rocamora, and Pleasure Dome’s Situated Cinema Project opening as well.
Reception date and time
Thursday, September 17, 2015 from 6–8 pm
Event location
TYPOLOGY
No. 302, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
See Google map of location
We look forward to seeing you for an amazing evening at AYP!
Scissors+Blades: A Papercutting Workshop Series : Saturday, September 19, 2015 / 12–3 pm
TYPOLOGY is thrilled to be co-hosting a 2-part workshop series on paper cutting with Paperhouse Studio this fall. Join artists Maria Flawia Litwin and Annyen Lam for demonstrations and art-making using a variety of beautiful papers and scissors or blades.
Each 3-hour workshop may be taken individually for $55, or sign up for both workshops at the reduced rate of $100. More info, images, and registration details at the links below.
Workshop dates and times
Friday, September 18, 2015 from 6–9 pm
Tiny Blades with Annyen Lam
Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 12–3 pm
Polish Papercutting with Maria Flawia Litwin
After Maria’s workshop, come on up to Suite 302 to see her current papercut exhibition at TYPOLOGY!
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Workshop location
Paperhouse Studio
180 Shaw Street, No. 102, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
See Google map of location
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About the Artists
Annyen Lam is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Toronto, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from OCAD University and received the Medal for Printmaking in 2012. Her practice includes cut paper works, installation, lithography, screenprinting and book arts. She has exhibited throughout Canada and has participated in shows and print exchanges in Japan, Russia and Venezuela.
Maria Flawia Litwin grew up in Poland and Australia and has spent the last 18 years living and working in Toronto. She holds a BFA from the Ontario College of Art & Design and a Master’s degree from York University. Litwin has been featured in the Globe & Mail, Kapsula, and Poor but Sexy magazine, and most recently her photography won third runner up in the Optic Nerve competition for Blackflash magazine. Litwin has exhibited in group shows in Ontario and Montreal, Quebec, and participated in four residencies at the Banff Centre in Alberta.
Koffler Art Bus Tour: Artist’s Talk at TYPOLOGY : Sunday, September 20, 2015 / 12–5 pm
TYPOLOGY will be an unofficial stop on Koffler Gallery’s first Art Bus tour of the season, with artist Maria Flawia Litwin scheduled to speak on her exhibition around 11:30 am. Join us for a brief talk on Litwin’s hand-cut paper artworks, and peruse the series of unique artworks produced in limited edition by Litwin on the occasion of the exhibition. A catalogue with original essay by curator Katherine Dennis and an interview by Caiomhe Morgan-Feir will also be available for viewing and purchase.
More info on the Art Bus tour here; RSVP to reserve your seat at: info@giftsandoccupations.ca
Date and time
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Artist’s Talk starts at 11:30 am
Litwin will then be in attendance from 12–5 pm to answer questions on her exhibition
Location
TYPOLOGY
180 Shaw Street, No. 302, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
See Google map of location
Culture Days: Exhibition Tour & Artist’s Talks : Friday–Sunday, September 25–27, 2015 / 12–5 pm
In this intimate exhibition curated by Katherine Dennis, featured artist Maria Flawia Litwin uses a Polish paper cutting tradition called wycinanki (pronounced vih-chee-nahn-kee), to weave colourful and intricate visual stories layered with personal memories, social history, symbolism and mythology. Drop in any time from 12–5 pm for refreshments and casual conversation about the exhibition and Litwin’s art and process. See the Culture Days website to make your custom event schedule!
Culture Days at TYPOLOGY
Friday, September 25, 2015 from 12–5 pm
TYPOLOGY Director Shani K Parsons will be on hand to discuss the exhibition with visitors
Saturday and Sunday, September 26–27 from 12–5 pm
Artist Maria Flawia Litwin will be in attendance to answer questions about her art and process
Note: a Gallery Hop tour group will arrive at approximately 12:45 pm on Sunday for a 15-minute tour, during which time it may be somewhat crowded in the project space. Culture Days visitors are encouraged to schedule their visit around this brief interval.
Location
TYPOLOGY
180 Shaw Street, No. 302, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
See Google map of location
Gallery Hop: Artist’s Talk & Tour : Sunday, September 27, 2015 / 12–5 pm
TYPOLOGY welcomes Canadian Art’s Gallery Hop for the first time with an exhibition tour and talk by artist Maria Flawia Litwin. In addition to the scheduled presentation at 12:45, Litwin will be in attendance at the gallery all day to discuss her exhibition with visitors and answer questions about her art and process.
Date and time
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Gallery Hop tour starting approximately 12:45 pm
Artist in attendance from 12—5 pm
Location
TYPOLOGY
180 Shaw Street, No. 302, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
See Google map of location
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