Lunchtime Illusions : Shani Mootoo
Irish born Shani Mootoo is a writer, visual artist and video maker who relocated to Vancouver, Canada at the age of 24.
At her session at FGLF, she spoke about how difficult it was for her to get her art recognized in Canada. “My art was called crude and naïve because it wasn’t what the people were used to”. Mootoo also became known for her video art, a passion which originated from a little camera and putting a poem into a video clip.
She showed a few of her video art, such as her original video ‘Lest I Burn’ from 1989, ‘English Lesson’ from 1990 and ‘A Paddle and a Compass’ from 1992. She recalls a fond memory she has of the 1992 clip, that the first people she met on the day of shooting the video was a Sri Lankan family who is featured in the beginning of the 8 minute clip.
Mootoo also discussed a few of her visual arts and exhibitions.
“It’s a brilliant idea to have sessions like this at a festival. Clearly a very engaged audience. I’m very very pleased to be a part of it, I feel quite proud to have been a participant” says Mootoo after her session.
Tariq
It’s very good. Quite out of the ordinary.
By Panchali Illankoon
Photographs by Waruna Wanniarachi
0 Comments