Union Station exhibit puts Black joy at the centre of downtown Toronto

“The best revenge against racism is your own joy,” says Frantz Brent-Harris, an artist featured in “I Am Still Here: Black Joy is Resistance.”

Thestar.com
Feb. 13, 2023
Madison Wong

How can Black joy be an act of resistance? That’s the question a new exhibition in Union Station, curated by MakeRoom, aims to explore and amplify.

“I Am Still Here: Black Joy is Resistance” features six Black GTA artists along with special guest artist Gloria C. Swain.

Union Station and MakeRoom invited Black artists to submit work that depicts what “Black Joy is Resistance” means to them; six were chosen to be a part of the collection.

The exhibition explores recollections of Black traditions and histories, testaments of Black presence, and inspired imaginations of Black futures, according to Trevor Twells, artist, designer and founder of MakeRoom, a curatorial agency and arts organization that partners with corporations to provide opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) and emerging artists.

The exhibition theme came out of discussions between Union, MakeRoom and Swain. The “I Am Still Here” title came from Swain speaking about her resistance against systemic oppression. The “Black Joy is Resistance” subtitle emerged from discussions during which the team questioned if there is room for joy, especially when Black communities experience so much mourning and loss.

“(Swain) looked up and said, ‘You know what? Black joy is resistance,’” Twells says. “It just kind of blew our minds, and we went with that.”

“Systems like capitalism and colonialism, were not designed (and) meant for us to feel joy,” Twells adds. “So Black joy, to me, means community action. It means changing those systems. It means recontextualizing those systems to fit our needs.”

Swain, who has been working as an artist in Toronto for more than 40 years, says that, as an older Black artist, there has not been enough space for her to showcase her work.

“And I’m the type of artist that, when I do get space, I always bring other artists (with me),” she says. “For me, that’s Black joy. It’s coming together as a community and lifting each other up.”

From AI art to photography, Twells says these pieces cover “the whole spectrum of joy.” The Star spoke to the artists about what Black joy as resistance means to them and the importance of having art spaces where Black communities feel welcomed and supported.

Frantz Brent-Harris' "Queen of Hearts."

Frantz Brent-Harris, visual artist

Brent-Harris’ installation, “Queen of Hearts,” is a photograph of one of his clay sculptures that he digitally altered using Photoshop. The sculpture is a part of his series “Afrophillia” and is about the beauty, joy and love of people who are African and have African ancestry.

He chose to submit this sculpture to be a part of the exhibit because, to him, it embodies the joy and beauty of Blackness.

“Black people have to have the agency to enjoy life regardless of what is going on. And the thing is, it’s looked upon as resistance because we’re not expected to,” he says. “The best revenge against racism is your own joy.”

Adetona Omokanye with his work in Union Station.

Adetona Omokanye, documentary visual artist

By juxtaposing Yoruba religious figures called Egúngún with models wearing contemporary African fashion, using a mix of photography and digital illustration, Omokanye visualizes the Egúngún as fashion icons and aims to show how belief systems, tradition and culture shape modern style.

“The meaning of resistance is to push further, despite the fact that things are tough,” Omokanye says, “and I relate that to myself, as an artist moving from Nigeria to Toronto.”

He says that although being an artist in a new country came with challenges, he was determined to tell African stories in a way that is true to him and his culture.

“It’s very important for Black artists to promote their work,” he says, “and I feel like showing my work here in Union Station is a big deal. I strongly believe that we (as artists) inspire fellow Black men (and) women to believe that it’s possible.”

Danyal Barton with "All Black People Go to Heaven."

Danyal Barton, photographer

Barton’s photo installation, “All Black People Go to Heaven,” commemorates the people from his community in Brampton who have died. In his photo, a Black model wears large, fluffy angel wings that are accented using blue lights.

To Barton, Black joy as resistance means being comfortable in your own skin and authentically yourself.

“For a long time,” he says, “in my own experience, if you liked something that wasn’t like rap music (people would question you). I think a lot of kids and different people from different communities fall into that thought of being someone they’re not.”

For Barton, providing more art space for Black communities helps other racialized groups, especially youth, to be inspired and create. “I would love to see something like this for Tamil History Month or Asian History Month,” he says.

Brittany Halunga (Rae Clair) and "Thankful."

Brittany Halunga (Rae Clair), multimedia artist

Halunga was inspired to create her piece, “Thankful,” by reflecting on her experiences growing up and digging into the question of “What is Black joy?” For her, the answer was hope.

“Black joy is infinite; it’s the colour of unity,” she says. “It’s a state of oneness with a culture that is ever-evolving and the knowledge that you are just a small piece of an infinitely growing tapestry.

“Black joy can go by many names, but I think one thing that has always been inseparable from Black joy is hope.”

For Halunga, the significance of taking up space as an artist is having kids see a “manifestation of what’s actually possible for them” and Black folks being given an opportunity to display their work and talent.

“We deserve to be in these kinds of spaces,” she says, adding that being able to showcase their work at Union Station and elsewhere sends a validating message and builds on their confidence.

Elicser Elliott and "Braid Up."

Elicser Elliott, fine artist

Elliott has painted murals all over Toronto -- including on Queen West and along the Danforth. For his piece “Braid Up,” he spray-painted a young Black man getting his hair braided by his mother.

“Hair is a great thing in Black culture,” he says. “We have our hair as a crown as we go through day-to-day things. Sometimes people have this stigma about long dreads or big afros. This piece says, ‘Don’t worry about it, embrace it. It’s beautiful.’”

Elliot says Black joy is wearing your hair any way you choose, adding that there continues to be pushback against Black folks wearing their hair naturally. Resistance means showing people that no matter the hairstyle, you can go far.

Jibola Fagbamiye with "Skater Girl."

Jibola Fagbamiye, visual artist

When Fagbamiye looks at his piece, he thinks of a quote by Nina Simone: “I’ll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear.”

Mixing digital illustration with traditional painting, Fagbamiye’s piece, “Skater Girl,” features a young girl in Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver, looking free and fearless relaxing in the sun. Hogan’s Alley is a Black community that was built in the 1850s and destroyed in the 1970s to make way for a highway that, Fagbamiye points out, was never built.

In Fagbamiye’s version, Hogan’s Alley is an existing, thriving community.

“When I think about Black future or Afro-futurism,” he says, “that’s what I think of: clean air, clean water, dignity, freedom to express yourself, economic freedom, cultural and political freedom.

“So, I feel that just expressing Black joy or striving for Black joy is the best of the expressions.”

“I Am Still Here: Black Joy is Resistance” will be on display in Union Station’s west wing until May 31.