The award-winning image-maker looks back on 50 years of practice before his solo exhibition opens at the AGO

After 50 years of practice, Tim Whiten reflects on his body of work with a succinct understanding: “They are living organic materials that are informing us about what we are and how we do things.” Since the 1970s, the acclaimed multi-disciplinary image-maker has been exploring naturally occurring materials, turning bone, leather, glass and coffee into monuments that fuse the physical and spiritual realms.  

Opening at the AGO on Saturday March 29, Tim Whiten: A Little Bit of Light marks Whiten’s 2022 Gershon Iskowitz Prize for his outstanding contribution to Canadian art. With over 30 key works on display, the exhibition ranges from works on paper and cotton, other three-dimensional objects, and mixed media installations.

A Little Bit of Light is curated by Julian Cox, the AGO’s Deputy Director and Chief Curator. “Attuned to the transcendent potential of objects, and drawing upon various spiritual traditions, mythologies, and rituals, Whiten invites viewers to sense, rather than overtly read, his artworks,” says Cox. “Whiten’s practice prompts audiences to explore the depths of spirituality, the nature of consciousness and the importance of ancestral knowledge.”  

During the installation of the exhibition, AGO Foyer writers met with Whiten for a conversation. Read more, HERE.