Ryan Antooa is a designer, writer, and artist currently residing on the Haldimand Tract, whose work is largely informed by colour, shape, and form. As Guest Curator at Minds Eye Studio Art Gallery and Yoga Studio, I am pleased to present Ryan’s work at the gallery this month. The Virgil referenced in the exhibition title “Thank You Virgil” is the late Virgil Abloh. Abloh was an American fashion designer, artistic director, and entreprener. He passed away in November 2021.“Thank You Virgil” is on view until September 1. Private viewings are available, and the artist reception will be held on Friday August 19th, 154 Victoria St. S. Studio#7, Kitchener at 7:30 pm.
“Virgil made me feel like I could be valid as an artist and didn’t make me feel strange for being as multi-disciplinary as I am. ”
How did you get to where you are as an artist?
The short answer: through a lot of failure and through a few delightful, hard-earned successes. The long answer: in my early life, my older sister introduced me to late 90's/early 2000's music and films, from films like Belly and Do the Right Thing to artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, Aaliyah, Pharrell, etc. I remember always being obsessed with visual elements in the associated films and music videos – like animations in ATCQ videos or the lighting used in Puff/Mase videos.
I ended up going to school with a heavy science and clinical focus, getting an Honours Degree in Nutrition and Human Physiology, but the entire time thinking "I don't really want to do this." When I graduated, I took a gamble and moved to Vancouver for two years to work as a copywriter for creative agencies, and it was there I gained a huge introduction to the art and design world. I went to endless galleries, art shows and events, and even snuck into a slew of art and design classes at Emily Carr. I used to spend endless hours just poring through books in their library, and then I became introduced to Matisse, Rothko, Basquiat, and many other artists that would go on to influence my artistic instincts later.
After moving back to Ontario, I spent a bulk of my time diving more into street photography and graphic design, and now have delved into the world of abstract acrylic on canvas. It's been a winding road as an artist, to say the least, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
The exhibition is called “Thank You Virgil”. How has Virgil Abloh inspired you and your work?
Ever since Virgil's Pyrex days and up until his appointment as Creative Director at LVMH, it's been amazing to watch his growth as not just an artist and designer – but as a Black man, someone of Ghanian descent, who normally isn't seen in the rooms, the galleries, and the runway scenes he ended up carving a lane in.
It felt like he spoke the same weird language that I did; referencing everything from N*E*R*D to Marcel Duchamp's ready-made art sensibility.
Virgil made me feel like I could be valid as an artist and didn't make me feel strange for being as multi-disciplinary as I am (he was essentially the definition of that, being a DJ, a skateboarder, a creative director, etc.). When he passed, it had a notable effect on me, but then I remembered his "you can do it too" mantra he used to tell young designers from Chicago, and have tried to carry that torch ever since.
Also, all of his work being "IN QUOTES" and intended for the tourist and the purist was massively inspiring to me.
Who or what are your other inspirations?
Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takashi Murakami, Zaha Hadid, Ryan Antooa, Anthony Ramsay, Brubey Hu, FKA Twigs, Dev Hynes, Loyle Carner, Paula Scher, Ilse Crawford, Kanye West, John Agard, the sound of rain during a storm hitting galvanized steel.
Have you made any personal creative discoveries while preparing for this exhibition?
When I started making art on canvas earlier this year with acrylic and Letraset, the most potent discovery for me was the fact that art using readymade, simple materials is still valid: it's more about the overall concept and end product achieved, and what the process was like. Most of my early work was made with crude, makeshift materials in my apartment; now that I have my own studio, I still take the same approach.
Ryan’s studio in Downtown Kitchener
Another discovery: I'm a sprinter, not an endurance runner, when it comes to my work. I'm good at producing sprints but need rest and recharge time to get re-inspired and re-invigorated. That's why my creative career has had so many eras and chapters to it, in such a short timespan, relatively speaking.
Do you plan your pieces out ahead of creating them or is your process more fluid?
I'd say 80% of the time, I start with a concept in mind, and reverse engineer the end product/artwork to the tools and materials I'd need to achieve it. The other 20%, I'm just throwing paint at the wall and seeing what sticks, creating in a fluid, easy, endless way. Both are super enjoyable, but just in different ways.
What is your dream creative project?
The next one! I'd love to move into programs like Adobe Aero and Blender to start creating more immersive work with interactive dimension and would also love to work on installations. Doing creative direction/design for album rollouts has been something I've worked on and want to continue to do as well.
What do you want people to take away from this exhibition?
"YOU CAN DO IT TOO." ™️
Follow Ryan on Instagram
Interview by Glodeane Brown
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