I recently had the privilege to visit the Art Gallery of Ontario in downtown Toronto for free. As a lover of art, I was thrilled to attend, but unfortunately, the gallery did not live up to my expectations. Don’t get me wrong – there were many awe-striking pieces to be seen. However, I found that the works of art displayed were mostly paintings, and even these paintings seemed to be repetitive. In my opinion the elderly plump aristocrat from the 1600s, as the subject of many portraits, is overdone in this museum.
Although this seems to be my verdict on the place, there were many other works of art that were simply gorgeous. My particular favourites are “Salon Indian”, “Portrait of Dr. Heinrich Stadelman”, and the statue of a human-sized bird sporting a business suit. The latter carries a black bird on his shoulder and shards of glass and hair in one hand. He can be seen pairing lime green socks with penny loafers. What abstract meaning could this work suggest? That is for the viewer to determine.
“Salon Indian” by Kent Monkman is a gigantic teepee made out of beautiful crimson cloth with gold embellishments. Gallery-goers can enter the teepee to view a video installation projected onto the floor. One quote by the artist, which is flashed before the viewers’ eyes while watching the video, is “The European male will own forever in my pictures as the remembrance of a noble race.” This masterwork caught my eye as soon as I stepped inside AGO.
Finally, the “Portrait of Dr. Heinrich Stadelman” by Otto Dix bedazzled me, because of its deviant subject – an aged man with receding hair parted in the centre and green skin to emphasize his emerald green eyes and forest-green pupils. The whites of his eyes are red, and to his left appears a plant, the significance of which must be determined. It was refreshing to see an abstract piece among all the still-life portraits, and what an extraordinary one at that!
If you have an appreciation for art, check out AGO with your sweetheart or someone you’ve been crushing on. Your opinion may very well differ from mine. Besides, the price of admission at AGO is fabulous – the Art Gallery is free to visit on Wednesdays, and $18 for adults on regular days. Another perk is its location downtown, surrounded by nightlife and eateries. What other date could make you feel more cultured than observing works of art in the city with a mate?
