Thomas Demand: House of Card

Thomas Demand: House of Card, on view now at MOCA Toronto, includes works by internationally renowned photographer and sculptor Thomas Demand and other influential artists, architects and designers including Martin Boyce, Rirkrit Tiravanija and Caruso St John Architects, spanning all three floors of the Museum.

Thomas Demand is well-known for large-scale photographs of 3-D models that replicate notorious or familiar scenes, which he creates from paper and cardboard. After photographing them, he destroys the models. House of Card refers to the precariousness of Thomas Demand’s practice as a builder. The exhibition features a selection of Demand’s large-scale photographs, with emphasis on his exploration into architecture, model making and collaborative processes.

Alongside House of Card, you will experience Kelly Jazvac: Time Scale in the North End Gallery, a new sound commission by British-Egyptian musician and artist Sarah Badr in the South Stairwell, and more.

Kelly Jazvac makes artworks out of discarded billboards sourced from the urban advertising industry. Her focus on recycling, questions how we produce and exhibit contemporary art, and advocates for more sustainable practices. At MOCA, Jazvac presents a site-specific installation composed of a variety of two-dimensional adverts sculpted to propose new imagery and language, reforming space. Her exhibition Time Scale creates a hub for conversations and participatory activities that focus on our relationship with images, consumerism and plastics.

A new sound commission by British-Egyptian musician and artist Sarah Badr will animate the South Stairwell. Badr’s practice focuses on world creation, complex natural phenomena, and algorithmic media. The sound piece will be accompanied by an audio-visual animation. These works build upon Badr’s visual language that  uses procedural systems for simulation and spatialisation in graphics and sound that explores the association between form and place in digital spaces.

MOCA is especially delighted to bring the acclaimed augmented reality (AR) exhibition, Seeing the Invisible to MOCA Toronto, Sorauren Park and High Park, starting October 1. In collaboration with the City of Toronto and Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the exhibition includes 13 AR works by internationally recognized artists such as Isaac Julien, Pamela Rosenkranz and Ai Weiwei. The route includes locations at MOCA, Sorauren Park and throughout High Park, taking visitors on an exploration of virtual art and nature as the artworks are seen and activated using a mobile app. The entire programme is free. Seeing The Invisible was initiated and organized by the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens in partnership with Outset Contemporary Art Fund.

Fall programming includes a project by artist Dean Baldwin Lew, performance by New Ho Queen, a pop-up market by Zine Dream, as well as bar takeovers and karaoke on Free Friday nights, tours of Seeing the Invisible and children’s workshops on TD Community Sundays. Also at MOCA, new video works and a lightbox commission by artist Debashis Sinha.

Thomas Demand: House of Card  September 16, 2022–January 8, 2023

Kelly Jazvac: Time Scale September 16–October 30, 2022

Sarah Badr September 16, 2022–January 8, 2022

Seeing the Invisible October 01, 2022–September 30, 2023