This international event attempts to unfix and unbound current thinking around identity by exploring poet-philosopher Édouard Glissant' s alternative: relation. Building on Toronto's current political and artistic dynamics, this event sets in motion relational poetics between local and international participants who together explore the potential of art to engage in the assertion of identities, its consequences on respect and the sharing of land and resources. The event proposes to enact Glissant's concept of “Le Tout-Monde" (Whole-World or One World) in order to allow new imaginaries to flow. Curated by Pamela Edmonds, Wanda Nanibush and Catherine Sicot.

The format of the event evokes Glissant’s multifaceted sensibility by combining experimental films, choreographed readings, sound and music pieces, interactive games, theoretical responses and discussions.  

Participants and/or works by:

Lillian Allen, Mosab Alnomairy , Sandra Brewster, Manthia Diawara, DJ Grumps, nichola feldman-kiss (with collaborators Lodi Awad, Valérie Buhagiar, Blandine Kan, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Ruth Mathiang, Leila Mosemi, Roula Said, Mabinty Sylla, Maryem Toller), John Greyson, Rosemary Heather, Alejandra Higuera, Nasrin Himada, Robert Houle, Moridja Kitenge Banza, Sukaina Kubba and Craig Mulholland, Yaniya Lee, Makesense (Gabriel Beck facilitated by Benjamin J. Allard), Olive Martin and Patrick Bernier, Olivia McGilchrist, Katherine McKittrick, Rea McNamara, Joiri Minaya, Esery Mondésir, Darlene Naponse, Rehab Nazzal, Public Studio, Ronald Rose-Antoinette, Larissa Sansour, John Ralston Saul, Duke Redbird, charles c. smith, Bojana Stancic, Adrian Stimson, Swapnaa Tamhane, Eve Tuck, Rinaldo Walcott, Fan Wu and the public.

The event is co-presented by Elegoa Cultural Productions and the AGO and supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, through the Sector Innovation and Development Program.

Presented as part of the symposium, please join us for AGO Live: Miho Hatori - Salon Mondialité .

SCHEDULE

Thursday, December 5 - 6:00 to 10:00 pm (Jackman Hall, AGO; and Art Square Café and Gallery)

From Creolization to Rhizomatic Identities

Opening remarks by Robert Houle, introductions by Catherine Sicot.

ÉDOUARD GLISSANT and GERALD VIZENOR: Films by Manthia Diawara (on Édouard Glissant), and by Wanda Nanibush (on Gérald Vizenor - filmed with Darlene Naponse)

FROM CREOLZATION TO RHIZOMATIC IDENTITIES: In conversation - Wanda Nanibush with Darlene Naponse, Ronald Rose-Antoinette, Eve Tuck and Rinaldo Walcott

LISTENING TO LE TOUT - MONDE: Drinks and music program by DJ Grumps. DJ Grumps' program is inspired by Édouard Glissant’s research and love of music. This program hosted at Art Square Café and Gallery, across the street from the AGO.

Friday, December 6 - 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (Jackman Hall and South Entrance, AGO)

Chaotic Conversations

Opening remarks by Duke Redbird, introductions by Pamela Edmonds.

CHAOS-OPERA: In tribute to Glissant’s Chaos-Operas, poetry and sound mix of different languages staged by Bojana Stancic with Sirens by nichola feldman-kiss and performers Lodi Awad, Valérie Buhagiar, Blandine Kan, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Ruth Mathiang, Leila Mosemi, Roula Said, Mabinty Sylla, Maryem Toller; Multiverse by charles c.smith; Mosab Alnomairy; Fan Wu; Lillian Allen; Hymne à nous by Moridja Kitenge Banza

ÉDOUARD GLISSANT IN NUNAVUT by John Ralston Saul

OCEANS: MIGRATIONS TO CHAOS: Films and sound piece by Olive Martin and Patrick Bernier, Joiri Minaya, Sukaina Kuba and Craig Mulholland. Response by Rinaldo Walcott

Lunch break

CHAOS TO OPACITIES: Films and performative readings by Esery Mondésir, Ronald Rose-Antoinette, Swapnaa Tamhane

CHAOTIC CONVERSATIONS: A conversation moderated by Makesense (Interactive game by Gabriel Beck facilitated by Benjamin J. Allard) with Sukaina Kuba, Esery Mondésir and members of the public.

BLURR: tour with Sandra Brewster of her exhibition Blur, Level 2, AGO

Saturday, December 7- 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (Jackman Hall and AGO South Entrance)

Land and Future(s)

ERRANT: performance by Adrian Stimson

Introductions by Wanda Nanibush

LAND AND FUTURE(s) - PART 1: Films and responses by Rehab Nazzal, Public Studio, John Greyson

Lunch break

LAND AND FUTURE(s) - PART 1: Films, works and responses by Larissa Sansour, Nasrin Himada, Moridja Kitenge Banza and Olivia McGilchrist

break

FUTURE LAND(S): Work by Katherine McKittrick. Conversation moderated by Yaniya Lee with Rehab Nazzal, John Greyson, Moridja Kitengue Banza and Adrian Stimson.

CLOSING

Complimentary program:
Field Recordings, publication by Rosemary Heather, Rea McNamara and Alejandra Higuera.  The Field Recordings publication team will gather audio, visual, words and any form of interaction with participants and the public before, during and after the event, with the intention to propose an alternative memory of it.

L’échiqueté by Olive Martin and Patrick Bernier: Altered chess game played via Skype with authors Olive Martin and Patrick Bernier.