50th Anniversary Projection Exhibition
These artworks by will be exhibited at Mississauga Celebration Square, as part of Winter Magic and Light Up the Square in November 2024.
About this project
To celebrate Mississauga’s 50th Anniversary, AVA Animation and Visual Arts, along with the City of Mississauga, invited local artists to turn the Hazel McCallion Central Library into a stunning canvas for an amazing 3D projection mapping show.
The artists, who participated in capacity building workshops, brought their creative visions to life, showcasing their work with the themes of reflect, aspire, and celebrate. The result is a dazzling animated display that will transform the library’s facade into a breathtaking work of art.
The projections will be on display from 6:00pm to 10:00pm on November 22, 23rd and 24. The event is free and is suitable for all ages. Learn more about the event.
Co-commissioned with AVA Animation and Visual Arts, each artwork celebrates Mississauga’s 50th Anniversary, responding to the themes of reflect, aspire and celebrate:
Projection mapping transforms spaces into magical worlds. For Mississauga’s 50th anniversary, the Hazel McCallion Central Library’s iconic walls will be reimagined as a grand celebratory cake. This design, inspired by the building’s arc shape, features Mississauga’s fruits, a flowing river, glowing candles and a stand formed by iconic city buildings. The projection celebrates the city’s growth, diversity, natural beauty, and urban spirit, offering an immersive visual experience that reflects Mississauga’s past, present, and future.
Follow Atsushi on Instagram @atsushi_mtsk
Sharing personal stories that reflect the city of Mississauga’s diverse population is interwoven into the city’s fabric and shapes its rich cultural tapestry. As an interdisciplinary artist whose practice is centred around inclusion, growth, and belonging, this project is an act of homecoming for me. Arriving in Mississauga as a new immigrant was a long-awaited dream after five long years of life lived in exile as a refugee. As a fifteen-year-old, I came of age in Mississauga, and it is in this city where my experiences engaging with the community shaped my identity as a researcher, artist, and educator.
Follow Azadeh on Instagram @azade21
Metamorphic: A Journey Through Time is a mixed-media animation reflecting on the vast span of time that the City of Mississauga has existed for. Using geologic mapping symbols to represent the land and its residents, this animation celebrates the City’s continuity from a deep past to a long and hopeful future.
Follow Catherine on Instagram @catherinechanca
Sea Change tells the story of a transformation, where water acts as a guide and metaphor for one’s inner journey. The piece represents a moment of transition, where the flowing water points to the passage from one state of being to another, ultimately leading to the rebirth of a new spirit, embodied by the fish. The concept draws on water as a universal symbol of renewal, cleansing, and transformation in various cultures and spiritual beliefs. Through the fluidity and movement within the piece, Sea Change invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences of change, growth, and the continuous cycle of life.
Follow Jenny on Instagram @jennychen.me
“This is a story about a girl’s fantastical journey through dreams and imagined worlds, symbolizing the picturesque transformation and vibrant growth of Mississauga over the past 50 years. From a quiet small town of the past to the modern metropolis of today, the story not only showcases the city’s architectural, cultural, and community development but also reflects the residents’ hopes and aspirations for the future. This journey is both a celebration of reality and a pursuit of dreams, as the girl experiences a beautiful narrative woven with the threads of history and the promise of the future.”
Follow JinKe on Instagram @jinke_wang
Fly With Me is inspired by the Pearl Crescent Butterfly, along with other winged insects who call Mississauga home. The work hopes to honor the dynamic, interconnected relationship between the flora, fauna, and humans who have chosen to live in Mississauga, as well as symbolize the diverse migratory pathways that create transformation and change in the city. Kaleidoscopic video imagery is projected onto a drawing, and then animated, creating an otherworldly, dreamlike image that hopes to inspire wonder and a sense of collective agency when dreaming and aspiring together along a shared journey.
Follow Mary on Instagram @maryma.studio
Illuminating Pages is an illustrated, water-coloured stop-motion animation inspired by my love of libraries. The symbols which float across the library wall reflect the diverse stories of Mississauga and are intended to evoke a sense of wonder, inviting viewers to explore the infinite possibilities unlocked through the power and freedom to read.
Follow Reena on Instagram @reenmakes
The animation follows a curious cat and a little wizard as they embark on a magical journey through Mississauga, discovering its charm and beauty along the way. As they visit iconic landmarks in the city, their eyes light up with wonder at the vibrant world around them.
Follow Sima on Instagram @artbysima.n
Delta celebrates the rivers Mississauga owes its name to and the life it sustains. As we look towards our city’s future, we reflect on all the change it has endured.
Follow Yen Linh on Instagram @yenlinh.thai
About AVA Animation and Visual Arts
AVA Animation and Visual Arts is a BIPOC women-led internationally awarded animation studio based in Toronto, that specializes in creating extraordinary visual experience solutions for brands, events and government agencies who want to bring joy and engage communities through art, light, technology, creativity and storytelling.
AVA’s goal is to deliver joy through experiences and visual journeys, believing art can transform spaces and reactivate economies. Their main objective is to engage communities with art, providing safe public experiences and spaces where people can feel represented using light and colour to spark a sense of wonder and connection.
More information
This artwork is being exhibited as part of Winter Magic and Light Up the Square on Celebration Square from November 22, 2024 until November 24, 2024.