Fastwürms transform gallery into witch nation

After a summer with the artistic pair Fastwürms in residency, the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) has been transformed into witch nation with their exhibit Donky@Ninja@Witch.

Opening Wednesday, Sept. 26, Donky@Ninja@Witch at the AGYU brings together new works by the Creemore-based creative duo and their previously staged Queen Street West storefront exhibitions exploring witch and queer cultures.

Canadian artists Dai Skuse and Kim Kozzi formed Fastwürms in 1979. The multidisciplinary artists are known internationally for their sculpture, photography, film, performance and installation art exploring nature, culture, power and identity.

The artists see witchcraft as an old resistance and liberation theology, an ancient cultural nation that moves beyond the narrow constraints of nation and race towards the diverse, plural and hybrid. In witch culture, if you enhance the liberty of others – including animals and plants – you prosper; if you constrain free will, you suffer.

Part of the Donky@Ninja@Witch exhibition is a re-mix of elements from Swag & Shag (1995), Unisex: House of Bangs (1999), Blood & Swash, Denim Pox (2002), Pirate Head, Gusset Nation (2004), and Blood Clock (2005).

New work includes Pink Donky and Ninja vs. Witch, a video production in the low-budget tradition of kung fu films, shot on location in Venice, Italy and Scarlet Hill, Ontario.

Donky@Ninja@Witch opens Sept. 26 with a reception at the AGYU from 6 to 9pm. The exhibition continues until Sunday, Dec. 9.

The AGYU performance bus will bring viewers free from downtown to the Keele campus for the opening. On board will be artist Katie Bethune-Leamen. The bus departs the Ontario College of Art & Design at 100 McCaul St. at 6pm sharp and returns downtown at 9pm.