Full Circle
Full Circle by Aimua is a public artwork on display in the City of Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre.
Aimua, 2024
Steel and repurposed vinyl banners
Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Drive
About the artwork
Inspired by the graceful acrobatic masquerade dance-theatre of Igbabonelimhin from Edo culture, Nigeria, this piece invites viewers to see themselves reflected in the masquerade’s face. It is more than a mask; it is an invitation to recognize the possibility of transformation in their own lives, just as the artist has transformed these light pole banners.
“Banners have long served as tools for signaling and informing the public. As an art director in the advertising and marketing communications industry, I contributed to the creation of vinyl waste through my designs. In a twist of fate, the vinyl banners repurposed in this sculpture are the same ones used to display my art during Mississauga’s 2022 Banner Program. This full-circle transformation—from generating vinyl waste to repurposing it—aims not only to demonstrate how material waste can be diverted from landfills, but also to inspire awareness, mindfulness, and deeper meaning through the act of creation.” -Ai
I set forth to find my old dreams,
Dreams inked on the ancient remains of the primordial past,
Reshaped by the earth, cradled deep in its bosom,
And returned to us as a sacred gift.
With reverence, I bear them,
Offerings to the melodic winds of transformation.
Take them!
In this sacred exchange, breathe new life into their bones,
Let them rise once more,
To dance in the light, to create anew,
To birth fresh dreams from the ashes of what was.
In the turning of this cycle, grant them grace,
A final blessing,
So that what was lost may be found,
And what was forgotten may be reborn.
-Ai
Gallery
About the artist
Aimua Ogboghodor
also known as Ai, is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans various mediums, including mixed media, sculpture, product design, illustrations, poetry, and digital art. Inspired by his Canadian-Nigerian heritage, Aimua explores themes of identity, perception, and the human experience, often delving into consciousness and cultural narratives. His work with repurposed materials such as cardboard, metal, and plastic reflects a commitment to transformation and environmental impact, while his broader creative endeavors engage audiences through thoughtful, socially relevant explorations and storytelling. Aimua’s art journey, which began at a young age, has grown into public art commissions and projects that challenge and connect communities.
About the mentor
After the display of Ai’s banners in 2022, the City’s public art program paired him with a mentor to transform the banners into a new creation. Ai had the chance to shadow his mentor and learn new skills in public art creation and fabrication.
Charmaine Lurch is an interdisciplinary visual artist whose work draws attention to human-environmental relationalities. Lurch’s paintings and sculptures are conversations on infrastructures and the spaces and places we inhabit. Working with a range of materials and reimagining our surroundings—from bees and taxi cabs to The Tempest and quiet moments of joy, Lurch subtly connects Black life and movement globally.
With a Master’s degree in Environmental and Urban Change from York University, Lurch’s field work with migrant workers and wildbees informs her research and creative practice.