Monika Aebischer
Whimsy, personal symbols, honouring, serenity, bowls, ginkgos. These are a few words that can be used to describe elements of my current body of work. I am fascinated with textured, layered surfaces that speak of the passage of time, transformation and survival; a sense of whimsy is as important to me as a sense of humor, for surviving tragic events in life. The imagery in my current body of work is based on whimsical human figures, historically inspired botanical imagery, and non-objective abstracts. My “whimsies” as I call them, are rendered without faces to depict their emotions in their poses rather than through facial expressions. The plants are meant to be ambiguous in form, depicting both real and imagined growth. The abstract work explores interaction of colours and texture. I use a reverse batik/encaustic technique that I developed to add the images to handmade paper. The paper pieces are mounted to canvases and further enhanced with acrylic paints and mediums. The gloss top-coat is an acrylic medium applied in numerous coats.
I strive to create imagery that is meditative, well balanced, highly textural and tactile. I want to attract the viewer through visual intrigue, but once in closer proximity to the work, they should be encouraged to touch and feel it, hence adding another layer of experience.
My art education encompasses a wide variety of media. The larger part of my education in Switzerland was in fibre and needle arts. Since coming to Canada in 1987 I have concentrated on furthering my interdisciplinary arts education with studies through the Toronto Board of Education, workshops with local and international artists and as a student at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD).
I graduated from OCAD as an honours student in 1999 and was awarded both the Governor General’s Medal and an Ontario College of Art and Design Medal. During my study I focussed on fibrearts (papermaking, surface design, weaving), book arts and sculpture.
Since graduation I have focused on creating fine art that is sold through select galleries and public art shows. I also own Minka Visuals, producing hand-made art on cards and wedding invitations. I currently earn all my income from my fine art and Minka Visuals. I have been maintaining an art studio in downtown Toronto since 1996.
Elected Memberships, Awards, Scholarships & Grants:
2003 Elected to Society of Canadian Artists (SCA)
2002 Emerging Artist Show Discount Grant—One of a Kind Craft Show Toronto
Best Graduate Booth Design—Uniquely Ontario (Toronto International Gift Fair)
1999 Governor General’s Medal—Printmaking (OCAD).
Ontario College of Art & Design Medal—Printmaking
M. Joan Chalmers Scholarship—Printmaking (OCAD)
Dr. Eugene A Poggetto Scholarship—Printmaking (OCAD)
Intermediate/Advanced Papermaking Award—Handmade Paper (OCAD)
Diana Myers Book Award—Bookarts (OCAD)
Peacock’s Hardware Prize—Surface Design (OCAD)
Dr. Eugene A. Poggetto Award—Printmaking (OCAD)
George A. Reid Award—Printmaking (OCAD)
1996 Advanced Printmaking Award, OCAD Printmaking department—Award for Proficiency in Contemporary Papermaking
Gallery Representation:
Artifex, 55 Mill Street (Distillery District), Toronto, ON (416.955.1422)
Canvas Gallery, 950 Dupont St., Toronto, ON (416.532.5275)
Linda Lando Fine Art, 2001 W 41st Ave. Vancouver, BC (604.266.6010)
Framesite Ad Axinom Gallery, 3443 Fairview Street, Burlington, ON (905.639.5560)
The Whistler Art Gallery, 4050 Whistler Way, Whistler, BC (604.938-3001)
Collections:
Works are in private and public collections in Canada, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, Germany,
Hong Kong, and the US.
Miscellaneous:
Demonstration to Society of Canadian Artists (SCA) members at Arts and Letters Club
(Topic: Working with Liquid Wax on Paper), (February 2004)
Workshops taught through Studio Six, Markham (Workshops included: Paste Papers; The Zen of Multi Media Collage) (May, October 2003)
Lectured to OCAD Material Arts and Design students, on the topic of preparing thesis body of work (October 2001).
Sole proprietor of Minka Visuals, a studio producing one-of-a-kind art cards and hand-dyed Chameleon Silk scarves, that are sold in galleries, museums and stores across Canada.
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