We are pleased to present a solo presentation of the artist Winsom Winsom, born in the Maroon lands of the Cockpit Mountains, Jamaica.
An influential figure of the Canadian art world, beginning with the pivotal 1989 travelling group show, Black Wimmin - When & Where We Enter, and the first Black female artist to exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Winsom Winsom is a multi-media artist, activist, and arts educator. From 2004 to 2021 Winsom split her time between Canada and Belize, where she established the Winsom Foundation. Her instinctive works explore themes of freedom, survivance, resilience, renewal, and African spirituality within the context of the Black Atlantic experience. Winsom has said, "As a person of many cultural heritages - African, Maroon, Arawak, Spanish and Scottish ancestries I bring to my work a spirituality which manifests itself through a syncretism of African-based religions and through deeply personal experiences. These blended elements have provided the focus of my personal spiritual exploration. Central to my art practices are seven principle deities of West African-based religions called 'Orishas'. They form a pantheon of godlike forces which express themselves on earth through specific elements and human attributes, creating human behaviour and so-called 'happenstance' in the circumstances of life. To identify with an Orisha is to merge with nature and the elements. I have as one of my objectives the narration of the different facets of the histories of peoples of African and Arawak descent. By establishing an interrelation of political, spiritual and social concern I present a Black female imagery that is informed by my sense of location and belonging."
For Plural we are presenting an important early work from 1999 entitled "Ancestors (5)". This mirrored, embroidered and embellished photo-transfer on silk depicts key figures from Winsom's ancestry, along with notable historical figures such as Queen Yaa Asantewa of Ashanti Kumasi (d. 1923), Mary McLeod Bethune (d.1955, educator and advisor to Presidents), Phillis Wheatley (d.1784, first African-American author of a published book of poetry), Nanny of the Maroons (d. 1760, freedom fighter and leader of the Jamaican Maroons), Nancy Green (d. 1923, original model for Aunt Jemima) and Empress Zauditu of Ethiopia among several others. Alongside this work is a new painting first shown at the 2024 Toronto Biennial called "Ancestral Voice," and four new portraits in oil.
