Lili Yas Tayefi with “Elemental Alchemy” at Brookfield Place in Calgary. (photo by Janille Delos Reyes/The Press)
Lili Yas Tayefi, the first artist to participate in Brookfield Properties’ 315 Artist Residency program, unveiled her new work, Elemental Alchemy, on Thursday at Brookfield Place in Calgary.
The residency started in 2023 as part of Brookfield’s arts and culture program. Together with Calgary Arts Development, this project repurposes unused retail spaces at Bankers Hall as studios for Calgary artists. During the seven-month residency, artists can bring their ideas to life and showcase their work.
Tayefi’s Bankers Hall residency began in September 2023. Galleries West talked with Tayefi about her creative process and residency experience.
“Turning a retail space into a studio isn’t always easy,” said Tayefi. “We need art sinks, and ventilation might not be ideal, but we ended up making it work. And I was grateful for the space that was available.”
Inspired by the story Skeleton Woman by author Clarissa Pinkola Estes, this piece showcases Tayefi’s experiences with familial ties, ancestry and femininity.
“It’s a direct parallel to personal growth in my own practices,” said Tayefi. “It’s also a reminder of the lessons we learned in life. I initially built the ceramic piece and it broke and crumbled, and I had to humble myself to deal with that. I had to come up with a different solution which I’m so grateful for.”
Tayefi is an Iranian-Canadian interdisciplinary artist, architectural designer, and educator. Her portfolio includes digital fabrication, handmade ceramic sculptures, printmaking, and filmmaking.
For this exhibition, she used 3D printing mechanics to produce a template for her sculpture. She brought it to life using paper clay crafted from upcycled materials such as newsprint, cardboard and tissue paper.
“We wanted to engage local artists that could come in and activate the space in a unique way,” said Jessa Morrison, Brookfield Properties’ Director of Marketing, Arts and Events. “Allowing that time and space for the artist to create has resulted in this beautiful piece of work that we can actually share with the people in our buildings.”
Harvey Nichol will be the program's next artist in residence. A Filipino multidisciplinary artist and cultural activist, he is a self-taught outsider artist who officially took over Bankers Hall in May 2024. His works are inspired by his heritage and personal experiences. Nichol’s most recent creation is AKLAS, a graphic novel that explores the current and future social-political issues in the Philippines.
Source: Brookfield Properties
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