Are you ready to celebrate October, Torontonians? Why not ring it in by hopping around the city all night long taking in some art, sipping some brews and defying the night! We decided to sift through the Nuit Blanche 2016 catalog and pick out some of the must-see installations that will be running all night.
This year is the first year that Scotiabank has pulled its sponsorship of the event. The number of projects has dwindled, but there are still many to choose from. There are four zones this year and a ton of independent projects. We decided to take a few from each zone that we thought would be cool to see and thought-provoking.
OBLIVION: One day, that big, beautiful sun of ours is going to burn out. So this zone is dedicated to its death by focusing on destruction and forgetting. Pretty existential stuff.
- Ocean, Philip Beesley @ Toronto City Hall: This installation looks awesome. It combines recycled textiles, sound bites and bursts of light to give you a very trippy experience.
- Death of the Sun, Director X @ Nathan Phillips Square: Witness the lifecycle of the sun and be prepared to be amazed (and a little weepy).
- Pneuma, Floria Sigismondi @ Nathan Phillips Square: Literally meaning “breath of life”, this film projection will make you think a lot about birth and renewal set to “Reach For The Dead,” by Boards of Canada. Ambient stuff.
Militant Nostalgia: This zone focuses on “meditation and the meditation on history and the passage of time”. Some deep stuff to think about here.
- The Merging, Nicola Verlato @ OCAD: Landscapes are put into motion as artists flow around a sculptural set up inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan and mathematician Donald Coxeter.
- Utopia’s Ghost (Fallen Flags), Arturo Duclos @ John and Stephanie: If you like politics, rebellion and the idea of an equal world, you will probably love this. A tribute to all the failed socialist movements will put into perspective how often the people rise up.
- Meet Me in the Glass House, Tim White-Sobieski @ Metro Hall plaza: This digital installation shows how history becomes “installed” on our DNA. History, oppression, liberation, struggle and success are all mapped into our genetic makeup.
And the Transformation Reveals: This zone is dedicated to the great mystery of transformation, whether on a human, technological or environmental level.
- Literature vs. Traffic, Luzinterruptus @ Old City Hall: Books are lit by little lights along the ground to question our movement into the digital age.
- Fallen Water - Niagara Escarpment, Kevin Cooley @ Brookfield Place: This massive video installation of waterfalls questions our relationship with nature. It also brings to attention our freshwater crisis.
- Everyone Thinks the Same Thought, KURT @ Commerce Court: A surreal experience as Thought Attendants bring you to a collective mind space, one thought given to all.
Facing the Sky: We all look up into the sky in wonder and amazement, questioning its vastness, magic and space. That’s what this zone tackles.
- Ascension, Julie C. Fortier @ 33 Harbour Square: Experience the smells of the city as you walk through this pavilion. Different smells from around the urban area are released for this olfactory experience.
- The Ghost of Modernity, Iixiviados, Miguel Angel Rios @ Harbour Square Park West: A video filmed in the Oaxaca region of Mexico will be projected onto a screen from the harbour. It hopes to honour the day against the night, North versus South, rich versus poor.
- Electrosmog Toronto, Jean-Pierre Aubé @ The Brigantine Room: Toronto hasn’t had a smog warning since 2014, but what about electronic frequency smog? This installation shows you visually the amount of frequencies emitted in the city centre.
The art celebration also has a reputation for being an underage drinking fest, so here are 3 things that will be happening outside the core that are likely to be incredible and chill.
- Beyond, group4d2 @ Spadina Museum: The gardens just outside of Casa Loma have been transformed into a light sanctuary filled with chill music, food and drinks.
- Residential School Memorial, St. Joseph’s College School @ St. Joseph’s College School: There will be 139 illuminated talking sticks, each representative of the residential schools in Canada. When illuminated, it will tell its story. Expect it to be heavy.
- Sensational Worlds, multiple artists @ Aga Khan Museum: This whole experience looks awesome. The museum will be illuminated and you can walk around the grounds for free. Another perk is the shuttle bus that will be running from the AGO from 6pm onwards.
There are a ton of other things to experience all night long. Make sure you dress appropriately as the weather looks to be cool and rainy. Pack a bag, grab some buds, and stay safe!