LAND, SEA & SKY INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL EXHIBITION

The International Programs & Collaborations Office at OCAD University is committed to creating connections between OCAD U students and our partner institutions worldwide. This collaborative opportunity, curated by Shoes Off Collective student group members Ellie Corfield, a third-year Criticism & Curatorial Practice student, and Nancy Correia, a fifth-year Illustration student, invited students from our partner institutions to respond to this call for artists and share their work in a student-led international virtual exhibition. This initiative is generously supported by the Global Skills Opportunity Innovation Fund from Universities Canada.

LAND, SEA & SKY

VISIT THE VIRTUAL EXHIBITION

Land, Sea & Sky delves into the concept of belonging to a land rather than possessing it, emphasizing the connection between individuals and their surrounding environment—whether it be land, sea, or sky. This theme highlights that cultural identity is deeply rooted in the land that one's ancestors have nurtured for generations. Participating artists explored how their identities are shaped by the land they live on, or by their ancestral ties to specific landscapes.

Acknowledging the rich diversity of cultures and their distinct relationships with their environments, this theme celebrates the symbiotic connection between people and nature, underscoring the responsibility to preserve these connections for future generations.

CURATORS

Ellie Corfield is currently studying Criticism and Curatorial Practice at OCAD University. This is the third exhibition she is co-curating. As a mixed media artist, Ellie works across photography, painting, sculpture, and anything else she can get her hands on. Her practice often explores themes of water connectivity—both cultural and personal—along with nostalgia, hybridity from her mixed identity, and mental health. While she enjoys engaging in new ideas and conversations, these themes are the ones she consistently returns to. Ellie hopes to one day work full-time in a gallery, but she loves the learning experiences that come from curating side exhibitions and working with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Nancy Correia is an illustrator based in Toronto. Mainly working with gouache and ink, her work focuses on exploring identity narratives within the Indian diaspora and the intersection between the human experience, spirituality and nature. Along with her artistic practice, Nancy enjoys working with groups dedicated to exploring the BIPOC experience and DEI frameworks. Much of her work is dedicated to advocating for marginalized communities and navigating her own identity as a person of colour in western spaces.

ARTISTS

Yasmin Siegl - Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo - Yasmin Siegl is a 21-year-old Brazilian artist based in São Paulo. Currently pursuing a degree in Visual Arts at the Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo, her artistic practice focuses on exploring the connection between nature and humanity. Her work delves into how this relationship can enhance human experience and promote the sustainability of the living Earth. She often utilizes materials that evoke emotional memories from her childhood, when her interaction with nature was a source of inspiration. Yasmin's interdisciplinary practice spans photography, video, projection, painting, ceramics, and installation, blending these mediums to create thought-provoking works.
Camila Herrera - Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo - Camila Herrera, a 21-year-old mixed-media artist, is currently studying Visual Arts at the Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo, her hometown. Her early experiences at her grandparents' rural farm nurtured her understanding of humanity’s symbiotic relationship with nature. This connection has since evolved into an exploration of her spiritual bond with natural elements. Her art reflects a yearning to recover the lost memory of a time when nature was revered and treated as sacred. Through her work, she challenges the disconnection from nature often felt in urban life and seeks to honor the sacredness of the natural world.
Zelin Zheng - University of Southampton-Winchester School of Art - Zelin Zheng is currently pursuing a BA in Textile Design at the University of Southampton. Passionate about weaving and knitting, she finds these processes to be meditative, offering space for introspection and creativity. Her work focuses on the interplay between texture, color, and pattern, each imbued with a deeper meaning. Zelin is committed to sustainability in her practice, experimenting with eco-friendly materials and low-waste production methods. She believes textiles have the unique ability to evoke emotions and bridge cultural divides, inviting viewers to reconsider the narratives that textiles can tell.
Chou Enei - Joshibi University of Art and Design - Chou Enei, a visual design student from China, is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. Through photography and design, Chou captures the subtle emotions and fleeting moments of daily life. Her work often shifts between black-and-white and color imagery, revealing the underlying tension and emotion within urban landscapes. For Chou, photography serves as a visual diary, transforming everyday scenes into moments of introspection. Over the past four years in Tokyo, she has drawn inspiration from her personal experiences, expressing the delicate relationships between people and their surroundings.
Camile B. delos Santos - Far Eastern University - Camile B. delos Santos, a 23-year-old artist from the Ivatan indigenous community of Batanes, Philippines, is in her fourth year of the Fine Arts program at Far Eastern University, Manila. Leaving her hometown in 2019 to pursue her education, Camile's art draws upon her connection to the land and her indigenous heritage. Taking time during the pandemic allowed her to further explore her artistic practice, using paint and clay to express her experiences. Her work reflects her journey of navigating the urban environment while staying rooted in the traditions and culture of her homeland.
Kristen Frances Lorraine Umali - Far Eastern University - Kristen Frances Lorraine Umali is a visual artist currently studying Fine Arts at Far Eastern University in Manila. Her work delves into the complexities of the human psyche, expressed through various mediums and techniques. Kristen’s artistic exploration seeks to uncover the inner and outer dimensions of human experience, pushing boundaries in her visual narratives.
Trobby John Reyes - Far Eastern University - Trobby John Reyes, a Fine Arts student at Far Eastern University, is an emerging artist who aims to challenge societal perceptions through his work. He draws inspiration from fashion, horror films, video games, and mythology, creating a fantasy world filled with original characters and narratives. Sculpting and photography are his preferred mediums, allowing him to bring his vivid imagination to life and explore his limitless creative potential.
Nadia Da Silva - OCAD University - Nadia Da Silva is a fourth-year Drawing and Painting student at OCAD University, minoring in Illustration and Gender and Sexuality Studies. Born in Portugal and raised in Canada, Nadia is a non-binary artist whose work reflects themes of longing and otherness. Their art explores the complexities of displacement, both in terms of identity and the concept of home, drawing from their experiences growing up in a Catholic immigrant household. Nadia’s practice aims to communicate a deep connection between the body, land, and culture.
Maria Fernanda Suárez Cadena - OCAD University - Maria Fernanda Suárez Cadena is a second-year Drawing and Painting student at OCAD University, originally from Veracruz, Mexico. Her work explores the intersection of tangible and intangible heritage, using symbolism, texture, and color to delve into human emotions and the healing process. Maria’s creative process is deeply intuitive, often beginning with quick sketches that evolve into richly layered works. Her Mexican heritage is a constant source of inspiration, and her experience of leaving Mexico to study in Canada has allowed her to reconnect with her roots, enriching her artistic expression.
Ines Tang - OCAD University - Ines Tang is a Toronto-based artist, originally from Hong Kong. Growing up in an international environment, Ines developed a strong interest in visceral storytelling. As a queer person of color, she explores themes of identity, mental health, and empathetic representation in her work. Ines’ practice is shaped by personal struggles, and she seeks to create art that destigmatizes the experiences of marginalized communities. Her work is an invitation to engage with the emotional depth of human stories.
Isabella Nicastro - OCAD University - Isabella Nicastro is a contemporary Canadian painter based in Toronto, Ontario, completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at OCAD University. Working primarily in painting, photography, and text, her practice often features depictions of traditional landscapes, still-life, and portraiture through a contemporary lens. Her work has been featured in several post-secondary exhibitions and private collections in Toronto, Vaughan, and London She recently completed an exchange term at Camberwell College of Arts in London, England, with several group exhibitions in South London.