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exploring taste – Spring/Summer 2016 places – The theater of Toronto
Toronto

People & Places

photography by John Oyston photography Francois Berthier/Stringer

5.
photography Tom Arban/Wikimedia 2. Northern suburb, the first museum in North 4. Edward Burtynsky
Situated in the unlikely setting of Toronto’s
America exclusively dedicated to Islamic art has
Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Center
become a landmark along one of the city’s main
commuter belt. The Ismaili Center was designed
by Charles Corea, a leading figure of Indian
You might have seen Burtynsky’s beautiful though
context of the conversation surrounding climate
Ossington Modernism, and the Aga Khan Museum direct- horrifying photographs used repeatedly in the
ly facing it, by Pritzker Prize winner Japanese
1. A Canadian institution, The Power Plant is a A testimony to how quickly Toronto is chang- architect Fumihiko Maki. A series of gardens change and global sustainable living. A docu-
public gallery devoted to contemporary art and
planted with mature trees and plants bridges
mentary based on his breathtaking photography,
a part of Toronto’s cultural landscape since 1987. ing, this once forgotten, crime-ridden part of the the space between the two buildings completed Manufactured Landscapes, premiered at the TIFF
The Power Plant Located in a disused powerhouse at Harbour- Ville-Reine has seen its hardware stores and auto in 2014. The collection, if modest in size, distin- in 2007, showing landscapes devastated by the oil
front Center, an arts and cultural hub, it pres- repair shops suddenly morphing into boutiques, guishes itself by its superior quality. and mining industries, exposing mankind’s un-
ents the new and recent work of Canadian and restaurants and bars. The neighborhood's indus- www.agakhanmuseum.org easy relationship with its environment. In 1985,
international artists. Over the years, The Power trial past is still visible, though gentrification has Burtynsky established Toronto Image Works, a
Plant has produced over 40 publications and made it much more welcoming. Real-estate, of space offering darkroom rentals and digital media
hosts an array of public events, from screenings course, has gone through the roof as Ossington courses, complete with a gallery showing the work
to performances and symposia. It also organiz- has become one of the city’s hotspots. Try Jona- of local and international artists.
es the International Lecture Series, showcasing than + Olivia for hard to find brands or Shoppe
talks by high-profile artists, curators and cul- and Tailor for handmade and refashioned items,
tural commentators from Canada and abroad. then end the day in one of Ossington’s many
www.thepowerplant.org trendy dining and drinking locales.
6.

3. Partisans

This young Alberta-born, Toronto-based fashion Sid Neigum Winner of the 2015 OAA Award for Best Emerg-
designer has already carved a comfortable place ing Practice and Design Excellence, this young
for himself in the industry. Shortly after releasing architecture firm has already built some of the
his first collection at the 2011 edition of Toronto’s city’s most distinctive spaces. The group makes
Fashion Week, Neigum was awarded the presti- use of cutting-edge software and fabrication
gious Toronto Fashion Incubator’s award. Since technology yielding innovative and surprising
then, his mathematical approach and fresh talent results. You can only dream of relaxing in the
has earned him many more awards for emerging Grotto, a sophisticated sculpted sauna built for
fashion designers. Modular patterns and origa- a private client in the Georgian Bay, but you can
mi are key to the designer’s collections: to create still admire their creative genius at Bar Raval: the
his compositions, Neigum makes use of laser cut, entirely custom-built interior is made from 75
‘structural’ nylon, elementary patterns and metic- digitally engraved mahogany panels on over 9km.
ulously folded single pieces of fabric. www.partisanprojects.com
photography Luis Mora photography Jonathan Friedman Photography
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