Epic Mythology Meets Modern Art: Efflorescence/The Way We Wake by Rajni Perera & Marigold Santos Opens at Contemporary Calgary

Calgary, Alta (November 18, 2024) — Contemporary Calgary is thrilled to announce the opening of Efflorescence/The Way We Wake, an exhibition by acclaimed Canadian visual artists Marigold Santos and Rajni Perera, curated by Cheryl Sim. The opening event will take place on Thursday, November 21, from 6 PM to 9 PM in the Ring Gallery (701 11 St SW). Originating from the PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art in Montréal, this dynamic exhibition explores themes of identity, mythology, and the creative power of transformation. Interviews are available by appointment or during the opening with the artists, Cheryl Sim, Managing Director and Curator, PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art and the senior curator of Contemporary Calgary, Kanika Anand at 701 11 St SW on November 21 between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For interviews and images please reach Nikita Nayak at nikita@parkerpr.ca or +1 778 751 4510

At the heart of the exhibition is a collaborative, large-scale sculpture titled Efflorescence/The Way We Wake. This masked humanoid figure, larger than life, captivates with its intricate details and a calm yet intense gaze. Adorned with flourishing outgrowths of fabricated plants and flowers, the sculpture reflects the artists' shared inquiries into diasporic identity, cultural heritage, and the interconnectedness of creation and care. Crafted during six marathon work sessions in Montréal, it serves as a striking centrepiece that encapsulates the exhibition’s themes of resilience and renewal.

Calgary-based Marigold Santos and Toronto-based Rajni Perera have each earned acclaim for their multidisciplinary practices, which weave together cultural heritage, science fiction, and personal mythology. Featuring over 30 paintings, five sculptures, a collaborative site-specific mural, and an extended program in our Dome Theatre that will change throughout the exhibition's duration, the showcase highlights both their individual artistry and their shared creative vision.

“Efflorescence/The Way We Wake is a celebration of kinship, fierceness, and artistic virtuosity. What a pleasure it has been to see the seeds of Rajni and Marigold's respective practices bear such intensely vibrant new work,” says Cheryl Sim, Managing Director and Curator, PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art.

A central theme of the exhibition is the multifaceted nature of identity and its ties to cultural narratives. Santos and Perera also explore the transformative aspects of motherhood as a creative force, connecting it to themes of care, protection, and empowerment. Their works craft vivid narratives that draw on personal histories and mythical elements, offering a compelling meditation on the resilience of the human spirit.

“Marigold Santos and Rajni Perera draw on their ethnic backgrounds in ways that speak to universal ideas of care and belonging, compassion and collaboration. Through stories of world-building that draw from myth, magic and science fiction, the exhibition is a generous and beautiful way to expand on both ancient ways of knowing and futuristic imaginings,” says Kanika Anand, Senior Curator at Contemporary Calgary.

Santos, represented by Calgary’s Norberg Hall, and Perera first collaborated at The Armory Show in New York in 2023, where their work received critical acclaim. Their continued partnership in Efflorescence/The Way We Wake reflects their shared vision of art as a bridge between cultural heritage, speculative futures, and contemporary experience.

The public is invited to experience this dynamic exhibition on its opening night, November 21, 2024, or until April 6, 2025. Admission on opening night is free, and all are welcome to explore this mesmerising showcase of Canadian art.

Learn more at www.contemporarycalgary.com

EXHIBITION OPENING SCHEDULE: 

• Doors 6:00 PM

• Remarks 6:30 PM at the Atrium

• Conversation with Rajni Perera, Marigold Santos & Cheryl Sim at 7:00 PM in the Dome 

• Galleries close at 9:00 PM