Kika Thorne

Kika Thorne
Born	Toronto, Canada
Known for	Artist, Filmmaker, Curator
Website	www.kikathorne.net

Kika Thorne is a Canadian artist, filmmaker, curator, and activist. ^{[1] [2]} She was born in Toronto, where she is currently based. ^[3]

Life

Thorne graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD University) in Toronto, Ontario, in Media Production and Cultural Theory, ^[4] and went on to receive her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia. ^[2]

Artistic practice

In her early career, Thorne worked largely in film and moving image and also co-founded a feminist, cable television collective called SHE/TV (1991-1998) which aimed to mentor female filmmakers in producing experimental TV. ^{[5] [6]} Between 1996 and 2004, Thorne collaborated with fellow artist Adrian Blackwell to produce videos, installations and civic interventions. ^[6] Thorne also worked as a curator for Vancouver's VIVO Media Arts Centre where she helped instigate a series of actions to express dissent around issues of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. ^[6]

With her multimedia/sculptural installations, Thorne works with the materials of mylar, elastic cord, rare earth magnets, plant-derived ink, aircraft cables, and other non-traditional art materials. Themes in her practice include an interest in geometry, physics, the visible spectrum, photosynthesis and social practice. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Select group exhibitions

• 2024: Gimme Shelter Saw Gallery, Ottawa, Canada ^[10]
• 2023: What is Welcome? Helen and Morris Belkin Gallery, UBC, Vancouver, BC, Musqueam Territory ^[11]

^{[12] [13]}

• 2020: Part of the Problem, Forum Expanded, Berlinale, Berlin, Germany ^[14]
• 2018: A Salve of Sorts, WAAP / Vacation Gallery, New York, New York ^[15]
• 2018: Dis[RE]Placement, Centre 3, Hamilton, Ontario ^[16]

^[17]

• 2015: Silva Part I: O Horizon, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo, British Columbia ^[18]
• 2015: Geometry of Knowing, SFU Gallery, Burnaby, British Columbia ^[8]
• 2014: One Possible Arrangement, Katzman Contemporary, Toronto, Ontario ^[19]
• 2013: Things’ Matter, Or Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia ^[9]
• 2013: I Thought There Were Limits, Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Toronto, Ontario ^[20]
• 2010: Western Front London Edition, No Soul for Sale Tate Modern, London, UK ^[21]
• 2008: No Time to Lose, Peacock Visual Arts, Aberdeen, Scotland
• 2007: Gasoline Rainbows, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia ^[4]
• 2007: Street Scene, Murray Guy, New York City ^[22]
• 2004-2011: e-flux video rental, e-flux, New York; Artprojx, London; Insa Art Space, Seoul; Portikus, Frankfurt; KW, Berlin; Manifesta, Amsterdam; The Moore Space, Miami; I Bienal de Canarias, Tenerife; Arthouse Jones Center, Austin; PiST///, Istanbul; unitednationsplaza, Berlin; Mucsarnok, Budapest; Location Project, Antwerp; Extra City Center, Antwerp; 9th Lyon Biennial, Lyon; Centre Culturel Suisse de Paris, Paris; Carpenter Center, Boston; the building, Berlin; Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon; 41 Salòn Nacional, Cali; Fondazione Giuliani per l’arte contemporanea, Rome; MG+MSUM, Ljubljana. ^[23]
• 2003: Zones, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario ^[24]
• 2001: The Lefty Show, A Space, Toronto, Ontario
• 2001: Substitute City, The Power Plant, Toronto, Ontario ^[25]

Solo exhibitions

• 2023: Not for sale! Architects Against Housing Alienation, Venice Biennale of Architecture, Canada pavillion, Venice ^[26]

^{[27] [28]}

• 2019: The Sun, CSA Space, Vancouver, British Columbia

• 2018: Tax Gentrification! The Public Studio, Toronto, Ontario ^[29]
• 2015: The Question of a Hunch, The Work of Wind, Nuit Blanche, Toronto, Ontario ^[30]
• 2014: Multiplicity of the Singularity, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia ^[6]
• 2012: The Wildcraft, Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario ^[31]

^[32]

• 2012: medicine, G Gallery, Toronto, Ontario ^[33]

^[34]

• 2011: a bar IST a garden IST a cafe IST a reading room , Berlinale Forum Expanded, Berlin, Germany ^[35]
• 2010: Singularity, Galerie ZK, Berlin, Germany ^[36]

^[37]

• 2004: Dehomogenised, LRT Commission, Artcity, Calgary ^[38]
• 2001: Kika Thorne in collaboration, Unit Pitt, Vancouver, BC, ^[39]

Film screenings

• 2004: VS., Latvian House, Toronto, Ontario ^[40]
• 2003: Kika Thorne, The Disorder of Things, Kino Arsenal, Berlin, and Kino Bremen, Bremen, Germany ^[41]
• 2000: Pleasure Dome's 10th Anniversary Screening, CineCycle, Toronto, Ontario ^[42]
• 1997: New Toronto Works Show, CineCycle, Toronto, Ontario ^[43]
• 1995: Puberty Film Show, CineCycle, Toronto, Ontario ^[44]

Collective work/civic interventions

• 2018–present: Gentrification Tax, Gentrification Tax Action, Toronto, Ontario ^{[45] [46]}
• 2010: SAFE ASSEMBLY (curated), VIVO Media Arts Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia ^[47]
• 2003: ambience for a future city, Anarchist Free School, Toronto, Ontario ^[45]
• 1997: Sod Roll for Shawn Keegan, The April Group, Toronto, Ontario ^[45]
• 1997: Untitled (mattresses), The February Group, Toronto, Ontario ^[45]
• 1996: Untitled (inflatable), The October Group, Toronto, Ontario ^[45]

Honours

• 1997: Winner Best Canadian Video Images Film and Video Festival ^[48]

References

1. "Kika Thorne". www.mediaqueer.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
2. "Things' Matter | Or Gallery". www.orgallery.org. Archived from the original on 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
3. "Arsenal: Kika Thorne". Arsenal – Institut für Film und Videokunst e.V. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
4. "Gasoline Rainbows". Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
5. "Kika Thorne | Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre". www.cfmdc.org. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
6. "Multiplicity of the Singularity". Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
7. "Arsenal: Kika Thorne". Arsenal – Institut für Film und Videokunst e.V. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
8. "Geometry of Knowing - SFU Galleries - Simon Fraser University". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
9. Turner, Michael. "Things' Matter Sets Thoughts in Motion at Or Gallery". Canadian Art. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
10. "A Salve of Sorts". WAA Projects. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
11. "What is Welcome?". Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. University of British Columbia. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
12. "What is Welcome? Exhibition". UBC Events. University of British Columbia. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
13. "What is Welcome?". Galleries West. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
14. "Berlinale 2020: News & Press Releases". Berlinale. Berlin International Film Festival. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
15. "Give Me Shelter". SAW Centre. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
16. "Displacement". Centre[3]. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
17. "An Artistic View of Gentrification in Hamilton". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
18. "Silva Part I: O Horizon". Galleries West. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
19. M6N 2Z9Canada, Katzman Contemporary 86 Miller StreetToronto. "exhibitions & events". ArtSlant. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
20. House, Justina M. Barnicke Gallery Hart; Toronto, University of Toronto7 Hart House Circle; M5S 3H3Canada, O. N. "exhibitions & events". ArtSlant. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
21. "Western Front Archives". Western Front. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
22. YorkNYUS, Murray Guy 453 W. 17th St 10011 New. "exhibitions & events". ArtSlant. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
23. "e-flux Video Rental". e-flux. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
24. "Exhibition Archive: 2003". Art Gallery of Hamilton. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
25. Philip Monk. "Substitute City (2001)". Philip Monk. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
26. "Demand: Gentrification Tax". Architects Against Housing Alienation (AAHA). Retrieved 2024-11-19.
27. Guatam, Mahika (2023-08-01). "Roll Down Your Banners, Take Down Your Flags". e-flux. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
28. Morelli, Didier (2023-07-19). "Canadian Architects Call for Housing Revolution at Venice Biennale". CBC Arts. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
29. "Gentrification Tax". The Public Studio. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
30. "Scapegoat: Landscape, Architecture, Political Economy". www.scapegoatjournal.org. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
31. "Kika Thorne: The Wildcraft". Art Windsor-Essex. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
32. "Kika Thorne: The Wildcraft". C Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
33. "Medicine with Kika Thorne". Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT). Retrieved 2024-11-19.
34. "Medicine". Kika Thorne. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
35. Thorne, Kika (2011). "A Bar is a Table" (PDF). Scapegoat: Architecture/Landscape/Political Economy. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
36. "Kika Thorne: Singularity". Internet Archive. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
37. "Kika Thorne: Singularity Exhibition". Art in Berlin. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
38. "Peep Box Special" (PDF). Stride Gallery. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
39. "Kika Thorne: Beginning of Architecture Series". Unit/Pitt. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
40. "VS. – Pleasure Dome". pdome.org. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
41. "Kika Thorne: Singularity". Mike Hoolboom. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
42. "Pleasure Dome's 10th Anniversary Screening – Pleasure Dome". pdome.org. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
43. "New Toronto Works Show – Pleasure Dome". pdome.org. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
44. "Puberty Film Show – Pleasure Dome". pdome.org. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
45. Thorne, Kika; Blackwell, Adrian. "Experiments in Collective Form". Canadian Art. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
46. "Artists Are Leaving, 2018". C Magazine Issue 140 Page 42. 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
47. Kazymerchyk, Amy. "We Come From Here". anamnesia.vivomediaarts.com. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
48. "Video | Vtape". www.vtape.org. Retrieved 2020-03-04.