October 31 – November 24, 2012
Opening Reception: Tuesday, October 30, 6 – 9 p.m.
THE RED HEAD GALLERY
401 Richmond St. W., Suite 115
Toronto, ON, M5V 3A8
T: 416.504.5654
E: art@redheadgallery.org
www.redheadgallery.org
Hours: Wed–Sat 12–5 p.m.
The Red Head Gallery presents Nile Blue by artist Janet Bellotto, an installation that engages a story intrinsic to understanding aspects of transformation and change.
Nile Blue was inspired by the natural world’s golden ratio (where the nautilus is often referenced), and what do we consider to be our natural environment. It considers how we may be losing the magic proportion, the golden ratio that nature had provided for us, proportions that the nautilus’ spiral shell exemplifies. This installation consists of a large lenticular photograph, a video, and a nautilus sculpture that emits sound. As visitors walk by the photographic image to view the video, the image also moves. It uses the process of lenticular (flip photography- like blinking eyes postcards) thus the scales of the “creature” appear in motion, producing a wave type of effect. Magnetic membership cards are available for the visitor to take and keep. They can use the card to activate the video by swiping it through a card reader. The video could be seen as a type of “Noah’s Arc”, it contains animals that are considered as prey, documenting species that are threatened or vulnerable. “Nile Blue” refers to a color that is greenish blue, but it is also a dye used as a biological stain for cells, which changes from blue to purplish red as an indicator.
Janet Bellotto’s work encompasses sculpture, installation, photography, video and performance. Water flows through her work: oceans and waves, submersion and reflections, in-between states that are fluid and aqueous. In her installations, the surfaces/spaces scintillate and radiate as a way to suspend the viewer’s belief. Her practice also encompasses curating and writing, and engages in projects that promote cultural exchange.
Janet Bellotto has exhibited in various cities including Beijing, Dubai, New York, Mexico City and Venice. A few recent exhibitions/projects include: 2011 Contemporary Crosscurrents: Portraits and Electronic Arts, Streaming Museum in Dubai (www.streamingmuseum.org); A Cozy Lie, Redhead Gallery, Toronto; 2010 – 12th Cairo Biennale, Cairo, Egypt; Drowning Ophelia, Stratford Gallery, Stratford; 2009 – Point of Encounter, Tashkeel, Dubai; 2008 – In-Situ, The JamJar, Dubai; WAVE, The LAB, New York City; 2007 – Dehisce, kkprojects, New Orleans, USA. Bellotto is represented by De Luca Fine Arts, Toronto.
The artist gratefully acknowledges the support of Zayed University’s Research Incentive Fund and Professional Development grant for Nile Blue.