Toni Hamel: The lingering

September 14, 2013 – November 24, 2013 Curated by Sonya Jones Oshawa-based artist Toni Hamel views the process of art-making as an empowering, cathartic tool to tackle dark issues and questions. Although informed by her personal experiences and infused with autobiographical notes, her work tackles universal themes such as gender roles, self-image, identity, and self-acceptance. Inspired by the banality and confinement of domestic life, Hamel explains that The lingering “investigates women’s aspirations and in particular our quest for freedom from cultural, religious, societal, familial and psychological expectations and restrictions, whether deliberate or unintentional, real or perceived.” This body of work, imbued with symbolism, irony and satire, is an illustrated commentary not only on Hamel’s own life, but of the shared experiences of women.