January Effect

A multi-site project on two billboards on Davie St, Vancouver, and on four billboards along Dupont St, Toronto.

Sited on four billboards, with two on the corner of Dupont St and Emerson Ave, one the corner of Dupont St and Dovercourt Rd, and one on the corner of Dufferin St and Geary Ave, Toronto.

The four still-life images selected for these billboards relate to the four seasons. Originally, the length of the images corresponded to the length of the day in each season, with Untitled (Winter) being considerably shorter than Untitled (Summer). The images have since been resized to fit the standard billboard format. Each composition considers the way garments and fabrics wield wealth and power and play an important role in shaping global histories. For example, Untitled (Spring) uses items related to the care of garments, such as wool dryer balls and dry cleaning receipts, with tartan private school uniforms, a colonial legacy of the British Empire that has infiltrated former colonies. Untitled (Winter) incorporates an image of John Singleton Copley’s painting titled A Boy with a Flying Squirrel (Henry Pelham); the flying squirrel was a common symbol of refinement in the period. During this time, silk was a great luxury, and this fabric was significant in expressing the social standing of the sitter. As such, great care was placed in the depiction of this fabric in the painting. Ellison incorporates tulip petals to mirror the silk in the photograph to emphasize its importance. As in his portraiture, Ellison’s still lifes contain objects that are laden with societal codes and continue his investigation into how Whiteness, wealth, and their attendant privileges are maintained and propagated.

Presented in partnership with CONTACT Photography Festival.