Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Gallery Watch: 'Black Femme: Sovereign of WAP and the Virtual Realm' at Canada

Text and photos by Clare Gemima 

Black Femme: Sovereign of WAP and the Virtual Realm
Canada, 60 Lispenard St. 

The WAP in the title of this show could not be more relevant after the huge success of Megan Thee Stallion at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards last week, taking home the title of Best New Artist

Unfortunately for me, the WAP had nothing to do with one of Cardi B’s best songs ever, but instead with something called Wireless Application Protocol, which the show’s description prefaces. Six female-identifying Black artists celebrate the Black Femme body through a post-internet art lens in the form of textile, paint, appliqué and video sequencing. 

Through various mediums, a heavy-hitting and sensitive topic are embraced through color, figurative play and an undeniable boldness that permeates as soon as you walk into the gallery. The work aims to dismantle and challenge the societal restrictions that are forced upon female Black bodies both offline and online, in virtual reality and AFK (away from keyboard). 

This group show intends to initiate discourse around the politics of sexuality, gender and femininity. The group show was curated by Christina Ine-Kimba Boyle and showcases the works of Caitlin Cherry, Delphine Desane, Emily Manwaring, Kenya (Robinson), Sydney Vernon and Qualeasha Wood. 


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Clare Gemima is a visual artist from New Zealand. New-ish to the East Village, she spends her time as an artist assistant and gallery go-er, hungry to explore what's happening in her local art world. You can find her work here: claregemima.com 

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