Annie MacDonell: Holding Still // Holding Together

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is in full force throughout Toronto as several of the exhibitions opened last week to kick off the event. The Ryerson Image Centre was buzzing on May 4th as each of the galleries within are hosting a show as part of CONTACT; Annie MacDonell being one of the exhibiting artists. 

Winner of Scotiabank Photography Award, 2015, Angela Grauerholz, who has a major exhibition in Ryerson Image Centre (fourth from left), artist Locrin Stewart (in the middle) and Annie McDonell (right of Stewart) at the Opening Reception, May 4, 2016. Photo: Emily Newell

In the University Gallery and on the Salah J. Bachir New Media Wall Annie MacDonell’s show, titled, Holding Still // Holding Together is a marvel. In partnership with choreographer, Ame Henderson, the photographs are comprised of six contemporary dancers performing on the topic of the power struggle between the police and protesters. MacDonell has gathered images of passive resistance from the RIC’s Black Star Collection. Then she analyzed and dissected the actions they depicted in order to recreate them in performance and video, filmed in long, static shots.

MacDonell wrote in her “Notes for Performers” that the purpose of the characters in her work “is not to memorialize them [but] is to hijack and rewrite the power relations they describe”. The artist used the beautiful setting of the historical President’s office at Ryerson University to rethink those power dynamics. She has removed all elements of the original setting: such as buildings, streets, the crowd looking at the actions – and focused only on the bodies themselves and the positions in which they take form. The dramatic meaning of the photographs are juxtaposed with the way of the dancers’ performance, with their peacefully and elegantly intertwining bodies.

Annie MacDonell, Holding Still // Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. © Annie MacDonell. Courtesy of the artist

Annie MacDonell, Holding Still // Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. Photo: Emily Newell

Through this method MacDonell examines how – even in these trying situations – people hold to their families, friends and loved-ones. Taking the time to watch these bodies move is incredible. It is challenging to think of where these, sometimes violent, images came from.

Annie MacDonell, Holding Still // Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. Photo: Emily Newell

Moving from a screen, where the dancers are configured, to a slideshow of images – we confronted by an intense and extremely topical discussion about power. All the images depict passive political resistance when protesters express opposition by using their own bodies to block further actions while police officers hold and forcefully move them. MacDonell noted that all the chosen images depict “instances in which peaceful refusal of protesters was met with fair compliance by authorities…they are, by and large, peaceful images.” 

Annie MacDonell, Holding Still // Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. © Annie MacDonell. Courtesy of the artist

Holding Still // Holding Together raises many questions that are very relevant to the world around us today. If these are the peaceful images, what would the violent ones look like in this medium? How powerful is the act of a peaceful / passive protest? Why certain people “met with fair compliance” from the forces while others receive brutal violence? How does it feel for the people protesting to be lifted or dragged? How does it feel to lift or drag a person? Why do people engage in these political activities? I had never thought about going limp as a form of protest. Faced by MacDonell’s work, it is something I can look at in a whole new light. The still, limp body of a protester is just as powerful in its own right as the tall, stiff, strong bodies of the men holding it. 

Annie MacDonell, Holding Still // Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. © Annie MacDonell. Courtesy of the artist

Annie MacDonell, Holding Still // Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. Photo: Emily Newell

Annie MacDonell has created an interesting and intelligent conversation about power through performance and photography. Being in the gallery and taking it all in was an incredible experience. It made me think about that there are many people out there who must, either passively or aggressively, fight for what they believe in. On the other side the police force is designed to maintain order and keep peace – but that sensitive line is often crossed by both parties involved.

Annie MacDonell will have an artist talk at the Ryerson Image Centre on May 18th at 6:30 pm – which I would recommend attending and to listen to her thoughts about these powerful images.

Emily Newell

*Exhibition information: May 4 – August 21, 2016, Ryerson Image Centre, 33 Gould Street Toronto. Gallery hours: Tue – Fri, 11 – 6, Wed, 11 – 8, Sat – Sun, 12 – 5 p.m.

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