About the exhibition
The Advantages of Tender Loving Care, Pt. 2: Variations
Gallery 44
401 Richmond St. W, Suite 120, Toronto, ON M5V3A8
Tuesday-Friday, 11 AM - 5 PM
Saturday, 12 PM - 5 PM
*The vitrines are located in the hallway and are accessible when 401 Richmond is open
September 8-October 28, 2023
Opening reception: September 8, 6 PM - 9 PM
The Advantages of Tender Loving Care, Pt. 2: Variations, explores cycles of creation and expands on the ever-evolving dialogue between the natural and digital world. Laura Kay Keeling builds upon the work’s initial presentation within a virtual exhibition to include natural elements that have been foraged, scanned, digitally manipulated and then manifested again into physical form. The work questions notions of reciprocal care and asks, do technology and nature necessarily have to exist in opposition? How do we evolve our connections to the natural world in an increasingly isolating and technology-dependent society?
Listen to a conversation with myself and Caeden Wigston, Gallery 44's Exhibitions and Publications coordinator, where we discuss themes of digital space, care and collage.
Laura Kay Keeling (she/her/they) is a self-taught visual artist based in Hamilton. Her practice is rooted in a process-centred approach that integrates analog photography, video, digital collage and installation. Keeling has exhibited work across Ontario, the United States and South Korea and has received support from the Ontario Arts Council.
Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography is an artist-run centre committed to supporting diverse approaches to photographic and image-based practices through exhibitions, education programs and facilitating artistic production. Gallery 44 provides space and context for meaningful dialogue between artists and publics. Together, we offer an entry point to explore the artistic, cultural, historic, social and political implications of the image in our ever-expanding visual world. Learn more here.
You can view more exhibition details here.
Visit the original virtual exhibition: The Advantages of Tender Loving Care
(Please note, there is audio included in this exhibition)
Learn more about The Advantages of Tender Loving Care.
Description of Left Vitrine
Red walls on the side of the vitrine with the back wall white. In the middle is a plaster shelf with three holes. Through the right hole is a big long fabric piece with reddish white water pattern. In the middle at the top is an image with different green and blue gemstones. Further down, is a water shape with dried yellow and pink petals. Coming out of the left hole in the shelf is a small fabric piece with blue water on it. Below the small fabric piece is a transparent rectangle with green background, pink and purple roses alongside a small glass filled with stones. A mirror runs along the bottom with dried pressed florals set on top. A thick piece of plexiglass is set on top.
Description of Center Vitrine:
Red painted walls of the vitrine with a large TV in the middle. Playing on the TV is a video with dried florals on tin foil, the sun casting different shadows and reflections. To the right of the TV and higher up is a beige plaster shelf with a long transparent fabric piece tied around it. The fabric piece has a blue background with yellow and white large flowers. Below the TV and to the left is a small fabric piece with bright colourful flowers on it pinned to the wall. A mirror runs along the bottom with dried pressed florals set on top. A thick piece of plexiglass is set on top.
Description of Right Vitrine
Red walls on the side of the vitrine with the back wall white. On the right side is a plaster shelf with a large long fabric hanging from it. The fabric has grey, black, blue and white stones all over it with a rainbow pattern in the background. To the left, higher up is a small fabric piece with red dried florals pinned to the wall. Below is a transparent long rectangle fabric with green background, dried white orchids and pink repeating floral pattern in the middle On top of the pink florals is a petal shape pattern. A mirror runs along the bottom with dried pressed florals set on top. A thick piece of plexiglass is set on top.
I would like to acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario, thank you for their support.
