On March 1, Etobicoke Civic Centre will welcome international painters, bringing together West and East, for the shared goal of art and expression.
A group exhibition “The Soul in Five Forms” will last until March 26 and feature 5 artists – Ukrainians Tatiana Rusanovska and Maria Antoniv as well as Turkish Hande Simsek, Perihan S. Kucukosman, and Mustafa Cetin, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and transformation through diverse perspectives and techniques.
The event is hosted by City of Toronto in collaboration with the UCC Toronto and MAVI Art Group to promote Ukrainian culture and celebrate the city’s diversity.
The exhibition doesn’t have a specific theme, hence giving artistic freedom to its creators and a chance to show the full variety of their newest works.
“We are such souls, such creative figures, that it’s difficult for us to fit in a certain framework. So we decided to not limit our self expression and show the current stage of our art: our typical style, the typical themes that worry us, what makes us happy or sad. And there will be all kinds of styles: oil paintings, acrylics, some mixed media’’– says Maria Antoniv, a Toronto-based painter of Ukrainian origin.
Maria a professional artist, who’s been in the field for over 20 years. After receiving a formal education in Fine Arts and Graphic Design at Carpathian National University in Ukraine, her path led her to Canada, where, through dedication, hard work and unique style, she became a renowned painter not only in North America but in Europe. Her works are also exhibited in Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Italy, and of course Ukraine.
Antoniv’s trademark is her vibrant and lively depictions of nature, especially landscapes and flowers, which will be fully featured at the upcoming event.
“I’m a big nature lover, that’s why my paintings are organic-themed. I’m also a very positive person, I tend to beautify things, so I strive to express that positive mindset through my work and lift the spirits of my viwers’’– says Antoniv.
She emphasizes the importance of reflecting life in her paintings-not always ideal but real.
“My landscapes are not perfect; I have flowers that are broken, some are a little bent. However, that’s life and I believe it’s beautiful. That’s the idea I try to convey to people, because that’s what I feel from within,- Maria admits.
Antoniv highlights she never paints flowers that are cut or placed in vases.
“Everything that’s cut off is temporary, it’s life cut short at some point, life that soon will end. I, on the contrary, love for it to grow and always bloom’’, says the painter.
However, Maria opened up that her works’ focus, being tightly connected to her emotions, has now somewhat shifted and gained a deeper meaning, since the beginning of the Russian full scale invasion of her homeland.
“My colour palette turned darker, because I pour my worries and sorrows into my new paintings. I also discover meanings in the older ones I’ve never noticed before. For example, how bigger flowers and their smaller, not yet bloomed butons, remind me of many mothers and children that have suffered because of the war’’ – notes Antoniv.
Similar to her, another participant of the exhibit, a Toronto based Ukrainian artist Tatiana Rusanovska, has used her artistic expression to show solidarity with Ukraine and its people during Russian aggression, mainly using symbolism in her works. Being also a painter of nature like Antoniv, she depicted national floral symbols of Ukraine, specifically sunflowers and poppies, showing support for her homecountry and bringing attention to its culture.
Maria and Tetiana will be joined by their three Turkish colleagues, showcasing the richness and multiculturalism of the Canadian art landscape.
Mustafa Çetin of Turkish descent, an organizer of the exhibit, has almost 30 years of expertise as an artist. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hacettepe University in Ankara before pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of East London in the UK. During his time in England, he co-founded the Turquaz Art Group alongside other Turkish artists. After arriving to Toronto in 2001, he established a strong presence in the Canadian art scene. Çetin’s abstract landscapes stand out for their unique approach to the style.
Hande Şimşek, another artist of Turkish descent a Toronto-based art educator, holds a degree in Art Education from Marmara University’s Faculty of Education. Her artistic style is based on academic knowledge and extensive experience in both art and teaching.
She creates visual settings that inspire reflection and emotional connection using intuitive gestures and vibrant color pairings.
And last but not least is Perihan S. Kucukosman. She is a multidisciplinary artist from Turkey living in Toronto, Canada. Her practice combines cultural legacy, emotional memory, and current artistic expression. After teaching for the Turkish Ministry of National Education, she pursued her artistic growth in Canada, earning a Postgraduate Degree in Art Education and Community Engagement from Centennial College. Her work has been showcased at majorcultural events such as the Happening Multicultural Festival, Dream, Bloom, and Nuit.Blanche Toronto and exhibitions hosted by the Women’s Art Association of Canada.
Together these five artistic souls will brighten this March with paint and colour, showing life to its fullest on canvas, so you can carry its vibrance with you.
Oleksandra Chorna
