MFA Graduating Exhibition 2022: temporary obligations
September 8 – 24, 2022
Audain Gallery
The exhibition temporary obligations is the culmination of creative practice and artistic research by visual arts students graduating from the Master of Fine Arts at the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University.
Collectively, the works by artists Homa Khosravi, Katie Kozak, Silas Ng, and Katayoon Yousefbigloo are reflective of the diverse experiences of the artists as they conducted their post-secondary education during unprecedented times of mandated isolation, social and economic changes during the global pandemic.
Navigating and adapting to these pressures has influenced their artistic methodologies, where the artists sought out spaces to work, collaborations, and exchanges with their cohort to continue rigorous artwork production. The resulting artworks reflect the longings of loss, the desire for intergenerational connection and communication with those closest to us, healing through non-sentient technologies and the power of nature, and the dedication to pursue artistic practice despite numerous obstacles.
The artists sought a response from Artificial Intelligence to generate their exhibition title, promotional image, and a text articulating the codes embedded within their collective works:
What obligation did you feel in the past or in the present? Did it have a ritualistic nature, a temporary one, an obligation, the obligation, or a form of commitment with no obligation? Will you give someone something on a birthday or show up for an art show?
Please note that these kinds of obligations that occur in a ritualistic manner can make you feel emotionally vulnerable and emotionally weak…..They can be depressing, disappointing and painful…..We have obligations, temporary obligations, obligations that should have a clear permanent intention and fulfilling of obligations when you have made the commitment. Those that do not are obligations that should not have a permanence.
The artists in the exhibition recognize that they are uninvited guests on the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh, xʷməθkwəy̓əm, and Səl̓ílwətaɬ Peoples.
Presented by the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU in partnership with SFU Galleries.
Events
Opening Reception
Wednesday, September 7, 6 – 8PM
Audain Gallery
Performance: How to Lift a Curse (Amazing Transformation Video!)
Wednesday, September 7, 7PM
Katayoon Yousefbigloo
SFU School for the Contemporary Arts Parking Garage, B2 Level
