Emma Nishimura

Varley Art Gallery

Curated by Anik Glaude, Beneath the Surface features the evocative works of Emma Nishimura and Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, who use printmaking to explore culture, family, and identity.

 

Nishimura’s practice delves into themes of memory, loss, and resilience, focusing on her family’s experiences during the internment of Japanese Canadians in World War II. Her work reflects on the enduring impact of this history across generations. Kabloona, inspired by her Inuit heritage and artistic lineage, celebrates her identity while questioning it, blending tradition with contemporary exploration.

 

Both artists incorporate sculpture into their printmaking practices, extending their work to amplify stories of personal and collective memory. Together, their art connects the past and present, highlighting kinship, heritage, and cultural identity. 

 
Beneath the Surface opens at the Varley Art Gallery in Markham, Ontario, on January 25 and runs until May 4, 2025. 
 
Additional programming will include a lunch & learn with artist Emma Nishimura on February 5, from 12:30-1:30pm, who will share insights into her research and art practice, which explore the complicated experiences of her paternal grandparents and Japanese Canadians during and after their forced incarceration in World War II. This talk highlights her work, creative processes, and reflections on navigating generational memory.
January 22, 2025