Nuit Blanche is the all-night art event that will take place in Toronto this October 5 and 6. From dusk till dawn Torontonians and visitors to our city are invited to explore the incredible contemporary art scene right across the city. More than 80 works of art will keep us up all night under the theme “Bridging Distance”. There are many places to visit from major arts and culture institutions to public spaces. Expect installations by local, national and international artists in this 17th edition. Also, be sure to take in events including talks, tours and workshops.
Wear your most comfortable walking shoes and dress accordingly! This annual event is not to be missed! Here are just a few of the inspiring installations we plan to check out during this year’s Nuit Blanche…oh, and did we mention it’s all free?
Sonia Boyce: Feeling Her Way at the AGO
British artist Sonia Boyce presents an installation combining video, collage, music, and sculpture. “Feeling Her Way” centers the vocal performances of four Black female musicians: Jacqui Dankworth, Poppy Ajudha, Sofia Jernberg and Tanita Tikaram in a playful and thought-provoking visual and auditory experience. Brought together by Boyce at Abbey Road Studios in London and Atlantis Studios in Stockholm, the vocalists are guided by composer Errollyn Wallen through improvisation, imagination and exploration. Audience encounter colour-tinted videos that take centre stage among immersive and tessellating wallpapers, created by Boyce, as well as golden 3D geometric structures and a reflective display of music memorabilia. (see lead in feature photo)
Light Speed – Bridging Distance at the Aga Khan Museum, Aga Khan Park and Ismaili Centre
Join in a night filled with awe and discovery. Light Speed: Bridging Distance explores life’s shared experiences and interconnectedness — how we are all deeply connected to the entire universe and one another through our shared origins, cultures, and humanity. Experience the all-night event through captivating live performances, the current major exhibition marking the Museum’s 10th anniversary, Light: Visionary Perspectives, and a mesmerizing performance featuring world-renowned flamenco artist Eduardo Guerrero, set within a clear dome installation.
Multiple Galleries and Art Studios at 401 Richmond
This iconic address continues to transform Toronto’s art scene. It will be very active with two floors of dynamic and interactive exhibitions and performances. Highlighting a diversity of cultural practices this art hub includes many galleries and exhibition spaces. Be sure to stop into the Museum of Toronto located right inside to see Raccoon Alley and Toronto Gone Wild. More details here.
OCAD University at 100 McCaul Street
The Metipso Portal International, is a 12-hour live and interactive event, co-presented by OCAD U’s Onsite Gallery, an official major institutional partner of Nuit Blanche, and The Metipso Portal International Mud Hut Media Lab. This exciting, multi-faceted exhibit will link Toronto to the mud hut media lab, located on the edge of a protected forest in the highlands of Central Kenya.
At the decommissioned Canada Malting Silos beside Ireland Park, Riparia, from OCAD U’s Global Centre for Climate Action and the European Union Delegation to Canada, becomes an aquatic temple, where chimeric goddesses, made and performed by Lithuanian artist Emilija Škarnulytė, navigate environmental and social crises.
Dim Sum Without Borders at Love Park (Downtown Waterfront)
This cross-cultural collaboration between Toronto performance artist Lauren Runions and renowned Hong Kong artist Hung Keung is inspired by the culinary art of dim sum. Celebrate the transformative effect of cultural exchange and profound connections between Eastern and Western traditions. Through the art of dim sum (which translates to “touch the heart” in Cantonese the two artists from distant cities form an artistic bond that traverses physical and cultural divides. This interactive installation will integrate digital new media with Classical Chinese themes. It invites audiences into a sensory odyssey where art, culture and cuisine converge. This installation is a partnership with The Hong Kong Tourism Board. (you’ll want to download the QR code on site to enter for a chance to win a Round-trip for 2 to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific Airlines, along with hotel stay and access to various museums and art experiences)
Spirit Place: The Magnificent Woodcut Art of Naomi Matsubara at The Japanese Cultural Centre
Nature is a sweeping backdrop of inspiration for renowned Japanese Canadian woodcut artist Naoko Matsubara. A distinguished print artist known for creating cheerful and joyful works, Matsubara’s images range from black and white to vibrant colour, intimate to monumental, playful to contemplative. Since 1960, Matsubara has had over 80 exhibitions around the world, but none have focused on her creative process and the influence of nature and the architecture of her studio. Spirit Place acts not only as a retrospective of Matsubara’s work, but also a reflection on her creative process and the influence of nature, spirituality, and the studio where she works – her spirit place. Artist talk is scheduled for October 5 at 7 pm as part of Nuit Blanche.
Olivier Bertrand Sculptures unveiling ceremony at Blue Bovine Steak and Sushi House (Union Station)
Be there when Liberty Entertainment unveils the custom, larger-than-life sculptural pieces reflecting the inspiration and influence of Japanese culture at Toronto’s newest dining destination. The two new, stunning figures represent the timeless beauty. Look closely and you might be surprised at the eco-friendly materials used.
Coalescing Toward at George Brown College-Waterfront Campus, Loading Dock
This gradually intensifying dance performance investigates the concepts of repetition and unison, exploring the capacity for movement to forge togetherness. Presented in collaboration with the Toronto Dance Theatre, this performance reveals the concealed yet dynamic space surrounding heightened emotions like ecstasy, euphoria and anticipation.
Softer City at The Bentway
How do we soften the barriers that separate us in cities? Here “softness” is embraced as a collective strategy for building a socially connected city. Explore the softness of this free public art installation as a means of humanizing our cities, connecting communities, and create space for collective repair.
BAM! Nuit Blanche Night Market and Dream Hoarder at Wychwood Barns
See over 30 artists together in a beautiful historic event space. Explore and shop a diverse range artistic mediums, from painting to jewelry, ceramics and print making. Artist duo Jackson & Dickson will have two films on display in Unit 177, including “Dream Hoarder” and “Anthropic Abyss.” For Nuit Blanche Toronto 2024, Andrew Dickson, known as Ex.Ox, will showcase the immersive installation “Anthropic Abyss.” This artwork delves into Dickson’s existential exploration, externalizing his inner workings to observe and challenge his place in the world. By traversing the divide between internal and external realms, self and other, real and imagined, and using creativity as a connective tool, Dickson navigates bridging the intricacies of identity, particularly for a neuro-atypical individual. “Dream Hoarder” serves as an invitation to pause, listen, and engage more meaningfully with the world and each other. It reminds us that although the structures we build may differ, the fundamental desire to connect, bond, and create safe spaces is a universal and enduring aspect of the human spirit.
See the complete list of what to see at Nuit Blanche 2024 here.