Mark Raynes Roberts' Illumination Project Shines a Light on Canadian Authors & Literature
Submitted by kateburgess on September 3, 2015 - 10:32am
Renowned artist Mark Raynes Roberts is set to illuminate Canadian authors in three venue exhibitions this October: the Gardiner Museum, International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront Centre and the Toronto Reference Library.
At the Gardiner Museum, Raynes Roberts will present 12 new engraved crystal pieces. ILLUMINATION: Portraits of Canadian Literature communicates narrative passages based upon the theme of light, taken from 12 literary works by Canadian authors and selected by the Writers' Trust Advisory Board.
At both the International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront Centre and the Toronto Reference Library, (and 12 Toronto Public Library locations) his ILLUMINATION: Portraits of Canadian Authors exhibitions present projected art installations of 150 photographic portraits of Canadian authors, including Margaret Atwood, Jane Urquhart, Miriam Toews, Joseph Boyden, Emma Donoghue, MG Vassanji, Anne Michaels, Rohinton Mistry and Michael Ondaatje.
The 150 portraits in the ILLUMINATION photographic collection are a gift from the artist to the country, which will celebrate its 150th Anniversary in 2017. In this spirit Mark committed to showcasing a diverse and inclusive literary landscape, travelling over 20,000 km in two years and taking more than 22,500 photographs of both emerging and established authors from all genres of writing, ethnic background and gender.
"Writing is a pursuit of knowledge and understanding; the desire to bring attention to a story that needs to be told, whether it be about a person, an imagined life, an issue, a part of our history or the human condition" says Mark. "This is why literature is important. We’re not only enriched by it; we’re connected by it.”
To view the photographic portraits of Canadian Authors, and for more information on the exhibitions, please visit the ILLUMINATION website.
ILLUMINATION Venues
Portraits of Canadian Literature - Crystal Art Sculpture
Gardiner Museum, Toronto - October 26 - November 11, 2015
Portraits of Canadian Authors - Portrait Photography
International Festival of Authors, Harbourfront Centre - October 22 - November 1, 2015
Portraits of Canadian Authors - Portrait Photography
Toronto Reference Library - October 11 - November 1, 2015
