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Choreographed Marks: Nava Waxman

Curated by Anik Glaude

The Varley Art Gallery of Markham, May 4 - Sep 2nd

Curated by Anik Glaude

In her interdisciplinary practice, Nava Waxman combines elements of performance, dance and the visual arts (namely painting, drawing, found objects and photography) to create site-specific artworks and installations. Her work, regardless of the medium selected, is informed by her interest in the dualities of order and chaos, continuity and change, and rules and randomness. It is within these contrasting forces that the artist explores the possibilities of mark making in relation to cultural contexts and identity. Over the past few years, her practice has evolved to question the boundaries of traditional two-dimensional painting practices. Now, she is interested in engaging with the fourth dimension, time, to explore ideas of movement and temporality, and to make the boundaries between various media more elusive. A temporal element is integral to many artistic disciplines, such as music or dance. It is also a key component of body art and performance.

The artworks presented in Choreographed Marks demonstrate the various ways Waxman uses the camera to bring to light the performative aspects of mark making. In these lens-based works, the body becomes both the brush and the artist that wields it. With an emphasis on process and documentation, the camera records her actions as she moves across the studio space; the body is moving in and out of focus, even barely visible at times. Employing theatrical strategies, Waxman introduces objects into her performances as props, adding layers of meaning and visual cues for the viewer. Finally, Waxman uses sequencing, the arrangement of images and marks, as both a presentation strategy and a way by which to develop a visual narrative and a personal artistic vocabulary.