Image Source: www.requiemofwater.com
Requiem of Water is an act of remembrance to the spirit of water that has been forgotten. Water is our life-sustaining gift, connecting all living things – without it, there is no life. Contrary to our past, today’s developed technological society has become indifferent to this source of life. The world’s natural inheritance of rivers, seas and oceans has been exploited, abused and contaminated. These narrative images embody our relationship and journey back towards honouring the waters. By exploring Indigenous culture and bodies of water around the world, Requiem of Water reveals the simple and profound truth that, “Water is Life”. The goal of the Requiem of Water exhibit is to heighten public awareness and encourage thoughtful responsibility towards our precious water sources and the role we all play in caring for them.
Learning about the Anishinaabe culture and their women’s responsibility to water inspired this project after Ogilvie’s own awakening to understanding water’s fundamental role in our existence. Relationship building with Indigenous communities has been a very influential part of this project as we work towards honouring the waters. It has involved over a year of research and location scouting, diving in the Great Lakes and abroad, as well as, collaborating with other artists and Indigenous teachers to understand how other cultures view water.
Echoing the vibrant motion of water in nature, Ogilvie’s photographs presented at Brookfield Place as large-scale panels are designed to carry the viewer through the narrative. The artist’s ongoing series of visual storytelling reflects her focus on our relationship to nature and where we find ourselves within that relationship during this period of rapid ecological change.
A portion of sales from this project will be donated to the Mother Earth Water Walk to support their efforts in protecting our Great Lakes as they walk its perimeter to bring awareness to the importance of water.
Requiem of Water will be on display from July 13 to August 14, 2015 at Brookfield Place in the Allen Lambert Galleria in downtown Toronto.
Official Website:
www.requiemofwater.com
