Mercer Union presents Out of this World, a solo exhibition by British-American artist Danielle Dean, running from April 13 to June 15, 2024.
Drawing from archival records and materials like film and advertising, British-American artist Danielle Dean produces bold environments to ground and enliven her research-based projects. Her multidisciplinary practice examines historical representations and contemporary conditions of labour, racialized identity, and popular culture through projects that are often produced collaboratively with community members whose experiences bring crucial perspective to the work.
Commissioned for her solo exhibition Out of this World, Dean’s new film is a portrait of Hemel Hempstead, where she was raised and unfolds as a personal essay on the town’s history as a planned community under the New Towns Act of 1946. Titled Hemel, the work’s central reference is a 1957 sci-fi horror B-movie shot in town about the arrival of a non-human entity that infiltrates the minds of residents and endangers life with a toxic black slime. Playing a composite character based on herself and the movie’s detective protagonist, Dean’s extraordinary vantage brings together real and imagined worlds, both past and present.
Free admission
2024/04/13 - 2024/06/15
Additional time info:
Danielle Dean will lead an artist talk about her ongoing research and practice, including an introduction to Hemel, on Sunday, 14 April, 2024. Visit mercerunion.org for more information.
Mercer Union
1286 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N9
Green P Parking available nearby:
Mercer Union is located at street level and has an accessible ground-floor washroom, with clear, unobstructed pathways within the gallery. Please note that there are no automatic doors at the entrance or washroom.
Mercer Union is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We welcome service animals and support persons onto our premises. If you require additional accommodations, please send an email to office@mercerunion.org.