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"Man Up"
Creatives of Toronto

"Man Up"

"Man Up" Solo Exhibition 

 

The work I intend to create is situated in the resistance to the ideology of hyper-masculinity. In a society built on systems of oppression that aim to control us, dictate our bodies, our identities, where we belong, and how we feel, we all experience varying levels of alienation, erasure and through acts of conformation - self-erasure. Though confirmation can also be empowering, even necessary to survival, the byproduct can be the internalization of these problematic systems. This work will be a reflection of this, both figuratively and literally. What I hope to achieve with this project is an evaluation of the internalized systems of oppression, set in place particularly to be critical of the black body. Further, I wish to create portraits that will encourage us all to live out loud and not feel silenced or shame around our bodies; To encourage the subjects and viewers to feel able to express ourselves in any way we choose, and to remind us all of the similarities we share despite our differences.

“Jah Grey has the gift to capture a single image that can be both optimistic and

distressing. Immersive yet nuanced detail contrasts the sharp contours of

silhouettes. It is a true joy to witness Jah expand the history of portraiture in

our generation.”

 

– Alex McLeod

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