Yiara editors and contributors meet with practicing artists, writers, public figures and students to discuss their work.
Wendy Lu was destined to become a writer. “I have always wanted to be a journalist,” she said over Zoom, with a smile on her face. “I was on the newspaper back in high school and middle school and before that, when I was very little, I created my own neighbourhood newspaper. It was just something that I always wanted to do, mainly because I loved writing.”
“I lost complete control of the message I was trying to send.” 32-year-old, New York-based tattoo artist Rosa Laura posted a five-minute video on their Instagram page, not knowing it would garner worldwide attention and more than 2 million views.
In an interview with Yiara Online, Concordia artist and Art Education student Anni Rose discusses their recent project, On Tattoos and Belonging. Coupling elegant self-portraiture and biting poetry, Rose reflects on the healing and empowering potential of self-representation.
Montreal-based photographer, director, and curator Laurence Philomène creates a warm and colourful world in their work. Their photographic practice serves as a vivid and beautiful visual archive of trans people’s lives, bodies, and self-expressions. Sarah Hollyer-Carney spoke to Philomène about authenticity, activism, and the process of documenting the everyday moments of trans experience.
To find out more about why sustainable practices are crucial to the future of fashion, contributor Angelina Mazza spoke to Rachael and Laura about how FBU is making a difference, and why students should care.
Contemporary Western art has recently become synonymous with self-expression and liberation. In this interview with Malak El Mahmoudy, our contributor Yaasrah Ahmed explores the perspective of viewing the pursuit of art as a privilege, rather than as a right. What forces artists to put their art on hold? And in what case does the pursuit of art put an artist’s liberation at risk?
In an interview with Eva Morrison, artist Laura Hirsh discusses Alan and Ada, her perspective on ethics in technology and data processing, the gender gap in computer science, and her work moving forward.
Eva Morrison interviews Toronto-based artist Nahed Mansour about her research and the ideas behind her “Little Egypt” series.
In an interview with Yiara Online’s lead contributor Eva Morrison, Concordia undergraduate artist Sadie Mallon discusses her recent work “How to Care for a Limp Thing.”
Eva Morrison interviews Toronto-based artist Rajni Perera about the process and inspiration behind “My Dreams Started Dancing.”
