Visit Boyce’s installation at the Art Gallery of Ontario with an in-gallery Teacher Guide. After the show, we invite learners to contribute to Sonia Boyce’s Toronto iteration of her travelling project, the Devotional Collection.
The voices of Black British women form the emotional soundtrack for millions of people’s lives and yet their contributions (and their names!) remain underrecognized. Since 1999, Sonia Boyce has invited visitors to add to an ever-growing digital archive called the Devotional Collection (1999 – ongoing). The idea for the work began in Liverpool, where Boyce invited a group of women to sing and reflect on the first record they ever brought and name a Black British female singer. The response showed that there was a lack of recognition of Black British female artists and their impact, which Boyce wanted to address. By welcoming visitors to share their favourite song or reflect on their favourite Black female artist online, Boyce’s “Devotional Collection,” grows with each presentation of Feeling Her Way. See the “Further Reading” page for past playlists.
“I began my works using sound by remembering a song and then writing it down. The lyrics then became the image for a wallpaper piece.”
Downloadable Content
SHARE YOUR CREATIONS
We encourage you to share your creativity using #DevotionalCollectionCanada by uploading an image or short video of #BIPOCwomenartists who have made an impact on your lives! Tag @soniaboyceartist @agotoronto @torontobiennial
This resource is created in collaboration with Fondation PHI, Toronto Biennial of Art and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Sonia Boyce (b. 1962) lives and works in London, UK. As an artist and teacher, she is strongly connected to the British Black Arts Movement – a group of artists that focuses on the inequalities in Britain, as well as race and identity in their work. She is known for her thought-provoking explorations of identity, race, and gender through various media, including painting, photography, and installation art.
Image Credit: Sonia Boyce, Feeling Her Way, 2022, British Pavilion, 2022 Venice Biennale. Credit: Rob Battersby @ Leeds Art Gallery.