That F Word - Lana Missen
That F
Word - Lana Missen
Curated
by Meaghan Barry
May 29 - July 31, 2nd Floor CWSE Hallway Gallery,
OISE/UT, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Opening Reception: May 29th
5-7pm
“I’m a feminist with
a small ‘f’ not a capital one, just trying to raise awareness. But these
stigmas are sticking and becoming a hindrance. We need to reclaim something but
I don’t know what it is yet.”
... from Missen’s spoken word piece “It Doesn’t Matter” (2014)
Lana Missen’s work “That F Word”
brings together a diverse community of self-identified feminists. Through
portraiture and personal handwritten texts, various voices express ideas,
feelings, and positions from within the movement. This project embraces those
from different backgrounds and cultures, ranging from Zimbabwe, Aboriginal
heritages, and 8th generational Canadians, as well as the spectrum of genders,
and generations representative of those from ages 19 through to 70. “That F
Word” exists as prints, a book, and a blog in order to democratize the work and
encourage engagement through multiple public spaces.
The series has assisted Lana in
finding her own position within feminism and has enabled her to passionately
connect with others, collaborate on ideas, and share stories. Feminism is about
equal rights and opportunities for all genders but it is also about much more
on a personal level. In ‘Khadijah’, the viewer is challenged by a woman’s gaze,
experiencing her sense of her pride and strength. The accompanying text piece
emphasizes ‘I am a black feminist’. Whereas in ‘Marie’, there is a
comfortableness and a quiet confidence at play. The participants in this
project represent diverse voices and backgrounds but echo similar thoughts on
feminism through their own personal lenses. However, negativity towards
feminism saturates our media and online dialogues in both threatening and
derogatory ways. This project is in response to the misinformation, hatred, and
stereotyping that exists. “That F Word” creates a safe space for feminists to
share self and voice. You are invited to participate in the conversation by
visiting: www.thatfwordproject.tumblr.com
Biography:
Born and raised in Cobourg, Ontario,
Lana Missen is a Toronto-based visual artist working with photography to
explore themes of the body, identity, and female representation. Through
portraiture, she aims to create visibility and a space to share her own and
others’ stories to a wider audience. A strong believer in the importance of
collaboration and community, Missen’s practice is based on engaging with
individuals and her viewers.
Her current body of work “That F Word”
was shown at OCAD University’s 100th Graduate Exhibition this spring, and was
part of the ‘Contact’ photo festival in Toronto this May. She has also
displayed works in the juried CLIC Eastern Ontario Photo Show, where she won
first place in 2012. She was part of the "Aperture" show at Moniker
Gallery in downtown Toronto in 2014. She has an interest in art education, and
outside of her fine art practice, Lana enjoys documenting performances of live
theatre, dancers, and musicians.
Lana Missen graduated this year from
OCAD University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and a minor in
English.