Amanta Scott: Eyeing Medusa

Canadian Artist Amanta Scott has exhibited and performed in museums, art galleries, theatres, concert venues and festivals throughout Asia, North America and Europe including: National Gallery of Canada; Royal Ontario Museum; Singapore International Arts Festival; Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan; Yilan Arts Center, Taiwan; Edmonton Art Gallery; Art Gallery of Algoma; Thunder Bay Art Gallery; Art Gallery of Peterborough; World Trade Centre, Barcelona; and Art Gallery of Ontario. Her paintings and sculptures are in collections across North America and Asia. Her interactive art installations and workshops unite and inspire people of all ages, cultures and walks of life — to engage with art and share their stories. View the exhibition here.

Artist’s Statement:

I’m forever prowling art galleries, museums and theatres; seeking/finding: insights into the human condition; perspectives on life’s questions. I note, however, that the majority of women depicted in Western Art are either idealized and objectified; or vilified, victimized and blamed; and, that people of colour are either hyper-sexualized, servants or notably absent. Consider: what implicit messages are we internalizing and/or enabling? How does the way we see women depicted affect our conscious/unconscious ideas of right or wrong? How are we affected or influenced by what we see? Could ideas so deeply ingrained in our subconscious minds connect to how are women viewed and treated in society today? Could problems in society today be rooted in our perception and representation of women? Could the way we depict women contribute to the normalization of abuse, rape and even genocide? Is there also a link between this and our culpability for environmental abuses? Where are the depictions of women when we are NOT being violated or objectified? We need to be seen for who we are, and what we do or have done — not just for our luscious sexuality. For this reason I offer Eyeing Medusa: an interactive art installation and social engagement project.

The Virtual Gallery @ the J is a digital home for creativity that educates, entertains and expresses shared experiences of humanity. If you have questions or would like to purchase any of the artwork, please contact Ian Mcnulty, Coordinator of Adult Art and Culture at ianm@mnjcc.org.

Join Director of Arts and Culture, Esther Arbeid on March 19 as she sits down with multi-disciplinary artist Amanta Scott to talk about her exhibition Eyeing Medusa, in recognition of International Women’s Day. Click here to register.