From Oct. 14 to Oct. 18, Zavitz Gallery showcased print-works by a young artist from the University of Guelph’s Fine Arts department. Victoria Day held a solo exhibition called Lepidotera. It presented the audience with beautiful print works in which the main subject matter was the individual characteristics of moths.
“While I was working on the pieces for the show, I was very interested in cycles of change, the idea that personalities are constantly changing, and the way that those changes are based on mimicking the traits of people you encounter,” said Day. “The moth was a signifier for a constant state of transformation, and their mimicking capabilities became the basis of many of the works.”
On the wall next to the entrance, “transition no.2” was displayed. This print exhibited several symbols of life and death within one image. It demanded the viewer to personally reflect on a reality of life that consisted of death through the aesthetically balanced arrangement of elements.
Along the left wall, Day displayed three works. “Falena Bussola” and “Squitur Stellarum” were the first two that showed a moth as the central figure within the image. At the forewings of the moths, Day illustrated the moon and stars in a style that provided an essence of harmony within all the elements of the image.
“Gaze,” the third work on the left wall, was a single framed print of a pattern created by Day that once was part of an installation in an enclosed space within Zavitz Hall. “Using scanned images of eyes torn from magazines, I created a pattern that resembled both Rorschach inkblots and wings,” said Day. “The installation between two doorways in an enclosed space was meant to evoke a feeling of being watched, while the resemblance to Rorschach inkblots was meant to suggest a psychological investigation. To me, the work was a physical manifestation of the hypersensitivity that comes alongside transitional periods, and the uncertainty they cause.”
The back displayed a series of embossed drawings named of “White Wingbeats” and “Steel Statues.” The artist used steel wire, sheet metal, and an etching press to create compositions that varied in organization. These all-white sculptural drawings were successful in creating attractive, subtle images through physically representing the texture of moths’ wings.
On the right wall, the “Mimicry” series was displayed. These plate lithographs were digitally manipulated images of moths with well-known mimicry patterns to enhance the subject they copied. Here, the viewer was faced with a figure of a moth that contained another subject, such as eyes, snakeheads, and a skull. When the artist was asked if she would continue to explore this theme, Day replied “since I finished the last print in July, I’ve moved onto doing mainly self-portraits to convey the ideas that fuelled the Lepidoptera prints, but I will continue in print media.” As she continues to develop as an artist, Day’s work is certainly something to look forward to.