epizoochory
what sticks? what scatters?

About epizoochory

How did we become we, how did this arrive

What did I bring, who did you leave behind

What latched upon bodies, burrowed our minds

How did our sticky things seed scattered lives

How might our scattered things sift space and time

Epizoochory is a mechanism of seed dispersal when a seed sticks onto something and later scatters somewhere else. It is a process of chance that leads to new creation. It is an experience of traced and untraced consequences. 

How did we become we, how did this arrive

Manoush Faisal’s Mera is a meditation on “who am I” and “what belongs to me” with the repetitive realization of  “mera kach nihen hay” (Urdu for “Nothing is mine”). We meet eyes with the terrified tiger, the solitary animal whose survival, like our own existence and identity, is part of an interconnected system of humans, animals, plants, and beyond.

What did I bring, who did you leave behind

Jackie Nguyen’s Allelo is a kaleidoscope of place, making, and imagining new ways of becoming. Her laborious process of harvesting and processing invasive plants to create new material embodies how we collect and recombine the moments that shape our own lives. This experimental textile is new to her practice and it is a monument that reminds us: through the act of creation, we too are changed and leave behind previous selves.

What latched upon bodies, burrowed our minds
Vanessa Iafolla’s Cactus Cross welds together grief, land, and presence. A physical memorial for her brother Tristan, Cactus Cross is a moment for us to reclaim and honour the space, moments, and landmarks that unexpectedly impacted our lives. The towering steel sculpture is something we want to hold onto while realizing it holds onto us just as tight. 

How did our sticky things seed scattered lives

Sulakshana Shanmuganathan’s Memory Portal is an invitation to untangle our fragile memories.  Her scattered strokes are expressive fragments of childhood memory and identity. We witness a vivid mix of confidence swirling with uncertainty as she navigates the gaps of her mind due to depression. Through the portal, we are reminded to recognize how our messy minds and whole selves connect, grow, and flourish.

How might our scattered things sift space and time

I curated this exhibition to challenge my curatorial and social discontents: selection bias, fit, and engagement ceilings. The four artists were selected via an open lottery. None of us had met before and there was no predetermined theme. Artists were asked to share whatever work they desired to share and the concept emerged from our conversations. The curatorial process itself was an exploration of what sticks and what scatters. Rooted in care, I wanted an exhibition that extends beyond the 2-week window installation - a community art workshop co-creating a calendar of reflections, a lottery-based film night with themes chosen by our featured artists, and online facilitated conversations. I can only dream of what happens next. What seeds has this planted for you?

About the epizoochory Artists

Manoush Faisal works in digital media, watercolour, and acrylic, focusing on themes of identity, emotion, and human experiences through visual storytelling. She is currently a Humber College post-secondary student and continues to explore the intersection of cultural and human performance.

Vanessa Iafolla is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily in photography. Her artistic work looks at intimacy, relationships, and belonging through a place- and land-based practice. 

Jackie Nguyen is a contemporary artist focused on ecological storytelling. They are inspired by the use of invasive species and upcycling to combine their passion for environmental sustainability with art. This exhibition marks their first time exploring the use of invasive plants in textiles. 

Sulakshana Shanmuganathan  is a self taught artist based in Kitchener.  She creates feelings of belonging in her paintings inspired by her experiences as a third culture kid and lost identities.  She often uses patterned lines  and bright colours, mixing real elements from her surroundings in imagined spaces.