Inner Space, a new monthly web series co-curated by the Inner Space Youth Advisory and AGO staff, welcomes artists from across Canada as they present personal tours of their studios. Giving a platform to young curators aged 16-25 to work with artists from their communities, Inner Space aims to make visible and celebrate a new generation of Canadian artists. A new video will be released each month.

This month we meet artists Whak and Mo, a duo born and raised in Nigeria and currently based in Hamilton. 

They were curated by Ruth Masuka of the AGO Youth Advisory. “Whak & Mo’s work simultaneously deconstructs tired narratives of race, gender, and migration while depicting dynamic, exciting futures. Blurring the lines between art and artist, their work leaves one with more questions than answers: How does one negotiate their identity within the context we find ourselves in? What exists in the grey zones between the black-and-white binaries we are forced in? How do we place cultural production into the hands of entire communities rather than a powerful few?”

Artist Bio:

Born and raised in Nigeria and currently based in the GTA, Whak and Mo explore the many dimensions of art and design, from fashion to music to image making, often serving as muses to local and international creatives alike. Their diverse portfolio reflects critical craftmanship, progressive ideologies and a dedication to creating truly innovative designs to inspire individuals to be the most elevated versions of themselves. As advocates for the arts, Whak and Mo prioritize highlighting the arts scene in Hamilton and are deeply connected to the city’s artistic communities."

Curator Bio: 

Ruth Masuka (she/her) is a student, educator, and community organizer based in Hamilton and is fascinated by the ways by which art functions as a mechanism for peace-building processes, trauma recovery, and capacity building. A firm believer of ‘nothing about us, without us’, Ruth has served refugee youth, racialized populations, low-income communities, and people experiencing housing insecurity using artistic practices as both a form of expression and action. Ruth is also an avid crocheter: find her work at @oddball.commodities on Instagram!