The AGO is pleased to host a series of one-day immersive workshops that offer emerging artists a deeply engaging mash-up of visual and audio experience. These workshops will feature new media designed to expand the workshop participant's toolset in a co-creative environment and offer a presentation space for seaming together participants’ samples. Workshop participants will present their concepts in the AGO’s Walker Court, where they can imagine and see how their combined creations capture the attention of museum visitors through projections and sound. As open labs, these workshops will interest emerging artists in all disciplines who wish to expand their knowledge of narrative-based experiences, immersive experiences and time-based media.

Friday, March 7, 2-5 pm - The Artificial
Friday, April 4, 2-5 pm - The Microscopic
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - The Cosmic (coming soon)

The Artificial Workshop

Friday, March 7, 2-5 pm
Seminar Room 1
Pre-Registration is $20 / free for AGO Members and Annual Pass Holders 
(limited spots available)

Participants are asked to bring visuals evoking “the artificial” theme (video and/or audio files max 2 min.) and their own computers and chargers to the workshop. Basic understanding of TouchDesigner software is highly recommended. Where applicable, other links to open-source software will also be provided.

Agenda

2 pm – Welcome
2:05 – 2:30 pm – Introduction of theme and artist talk by Faisal Anwar
2:30 – 3:30 pm – Meet and greet
3:30 – 5:00 pm -- Mash-up
5:00 – 7:00 pm – Dinner Break – free time
7:00 – 9:00 pm – Showcase of Mash-Up in Walker Court (public premiere)

Public Showcase

Friday, March 7, 7-9 pm
Walker Court

Bring your friends and family to Walker Court and see the fruits of your labour. We will present the collaborative work generated in the workshop. Open to the public, free with museum admission.

Co-facilitated by Faisal Anwar and Hagop Ohannessian

About the Facilitators:

Faisal Anwar is a Pakistani-Canadian hybrid artist working at the intersection of art, design, technology, and emerging mediums. His practice explores space, time, memory, changes in digital culture and identities, and human interaction. He is passionate about utilizing data, algorithms, and insights from science and ecology to create thought-provoking and visually engaging art. In 2022, he served as the lead curator for the Karachi Biennale and founded CultureLab.art, a studio focused on climate change, wellness, and social transformation. Additionally, he co-founded ArtAddress, an artist-led collective that fosters creative dialogue. Anwar’s work has been showcased locally and internationally, with exhibitions, Seeds of Hope (Show Gallery, Los Angeles, California, 2024), A Place I Call Home (Ontario Culture Days, 2023), CharBagh, Sensory Garden (Surrey Art Gallery, 2019, and Aga Khan Museum, 2016), and Tweet Garden (Royal Ontario Museum, 2012, and Art Gallery of Mississauga, 2014). Faisal Anwar graduated from the Canadian Film Centre's Habitat-LAB (2004) and the National College of Arts in Lahore (1996).

Hagop Ohannessian is an Armenian-Lebanese artist based in Toronto, Canada. His multidisciplinary practice spans sound, video, sculpture, digital illustration, painting, and collage. By blending media and digital art techniques with physical materials, he explores the intersections of technology and traditional forms. He is currently the A/V coordinator at the Art Gallery of Ontario. He is joined by AGO media team, Mukhran Machavaria, A/V specialist, music producer and multi-media artist; Jamal Lee, A/V specialist, music producer and Lighting artist; and Patrick Perez, A/V specialist. Music Producer and Singer.