Missing Women
February 27.11 Posted by: 1 LOVE T.O. Categories: Art, Community, Various
We came across a riviting gallery exhibit featured at the Department of Canadian Heritage titled, “Missing Women” featuring paintings by Canadian artist Ilene Sova. The series consists of painted, portrait renditions of women that had been reported missing in Ontario from 1970 until 2000. Ilene performed extensive research through Canada Newstand database and OPP archives of the missing women, in an effort to get a sense of who they were as a person and to portray them not just as a fleeting face on the evening news, but as an image captured of a young, human being, taken away in the prime of their life.
“In terms of artistic relevance and innovation; the history of portrait painting is one in which the elite, the influential, the religious and the historically esteemed are who don the canvases of the portrait painter. Likewise; I aim to have my viewer interpret these missing women as monumental, relevant, and noteworthy. Through choosing these particular women as subjects and putting them on view for consideration; I aim to metaphorically shine a light on what is hidden or not openly spoken about.” -Ilene Sova
Ilene found herself upset with the sometimes discriminatory and selective process in which law enforcement and media use to cover cases of missing women in particular; cases featuring runaways, mentally ill, sex workers and women of colour receiving less exposure, if any at all. With this exhibit Ilene seeks not to produce art that is created for profit, but to create an open, public discussion about the issue of violence against women.
Elizabeth Marie Bain – Missing since June 19, 1990 from Scarborough.
To read about the women’s individual stories and view the portraits you can go to Sova’s website HERE.
Written by Keesha Williams.
This is very humbling to read. Thank you, Keesha!
Ilene’s portraits are extremely expressive and almost quirky.
We must be the voice for these lost sisters, and all the other women and young girls that at are at risk and being forced into situations they are unable to break out of.
Blessup.
Thanks for posting.
The covert sexism in some of the newspaper reportage around missing women is often surprising.
I’m glad more attention is being brought to this topic.
H
These portraits are more haunting than any photo can be and the dark colors really add a darker aspect to something that generally gets glossed over… the larger image is amazing, it makes me really wonder what happened to her….
These portraits remind us that these women were not just victims.. They were people, who’s voices have been forgotten along the way.. Thx Keesha. Great post!
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