Opening Invitation to Whispering Whimsies
An Exhibition by Rojia Dadashzadeh
“Play is not something we do to escape the world, but a way to encounter the world otherwise”
Saturday, April 11th 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
August Studios 1320 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V8, Canada
We are delighted to invite you to the opening of Whispering Whimsies, an immersive exploration of play as a radical act of resistance. Through stop-motion animation and watercolor cutouts, Rojia Dadashzadeh transforms simple paper into a world of wonder and discovery.
Inspired by Richard Pochinko’s "Clown through Mask" methodology, this collection finds light within the shadows, from the history of war-zone Iran to the quiet magic of a child’s wooden mannequin named Mr. Play Play.
An Exhibition Text on Whispering Whimsies
by Rojia Dadashzadeh
Whispering Whimsies comes from a deep-seated belief that playing is a form of living and resistance. Growing up in a war zone and under an oppressive regime in Iran, I found that the most radical thing was to hold onto my sense of wonder. Instead of letting the weight of that history take over, I’ve chosen to create a world that is light, whimsical, and intentionally playful. My practice is rooted in clowning¹, not just as a performance, but as a way to be fully present and open to the world of possibilities and encounters. Through stop-motion animation, I take simple watercolor paper cutouts and give them a life of their own. A tiny tilt of a head or a small shift in a paper shape becomes a conversation. Like a clown on an empty stage, these little characters use the simplest gestures to tell stories about how we relate to one another, inviting everyone to step into a space that reminds them of their own stories and the experiences we all recognize.
This journey recently came full circle in the most honest way. While I was in my room thinking about the show and the red nose, my eleven-year-old daughter walked in with a surprise. She had taken a wooden drawing mannequin and completely transformed him with markers; giving him sideburns, little clothes, and a bright red nose. She called him Mr. Play Play and asked me to take him to the Atelier (art room) where I teach art to children at a local elementary school. It was such a serendipitous, unprompted moment of connection that bridged my life as an artist, a teacher, and a parent. In the gallery, you’ll see these characters living on the walls and moving in a large, glowing projection in a darkened room. I aimed to curate a multi-layered space where discovery and play emerge through subtle details. Mr. Play Play and the crowd are here to remind us that play isn't something we do to escape the world, but perhaps a way to meet it head-on; using wonder as a powerful act of resistance against the shadows and the dissonance of our times.
Coburn, V., & Morrison, S. (2013). Clown through mask: The pioneering work of Richard Pochinko as practised. Intellect Books