Marissa Largo

Originally from the Phillipines, Marissa Largo lives and teaches in Toronto. Having graduated in Fine Arts from York University and pursuing a Master degree in Art Education at the Concordia University, her interests as an academic researcher focus on multiculturalism, the practice of collaborative art, community art education, cultural democracy and anti-racism.

Being deeply involved in community life, Marissa Largo collaborates with two Phillipino organizations: Ugnayan ng Kabataang Filipino sa Canada located in Toronto and Kabataang Montreal. She works with the youth to encourage artistic discovery and to integrate artistic practice in their daily lives. Marissa also works at the Centre for Immigrant Workers, an organization dedicated to defend the rights of immigrants and to facilitate their integration into Canadian society.

In constant evolution, the artistic work of Marissa Largo is a personal reflection on the processes governing the construction of identities in a world swept by globalization. The artist invites the public to reflect upon the changes in spatial and temporal perceptions that are sparked by the rising accessibility of travelling, and the issues of immigration.

A true ambassador as an art activist, Marissa Largo exhibits regularly in Montreal and Toronto. Her works have been presented in several group exhibitions: Departures (2005), Greater the One (2004), MEQ: Misconceptions Elegantly Quenched (2004), Additions (2004) and Smudge (2004). She also has to her credit, two solo photography exhibitions: Small World (2003) and Neither Here Nor There (2003).

Artist's Note

"Art production, like one's sense of self, is a constant work in progress. In order to make meaning in a world where ethnicity and culture are no longer tied to one place, we must recreate meaning for ourselves in new contexts."

"As an artist, researcher, and educator, my art practice is a form of inquiry and activism which involves engaging with communities that are often ignored by dominant society. I believe that art production and exhibition provides a forum for people to represent their lived experiences. As a member of the Filipino-Canadian community, I will not only facilitate in the telling of these stories, but will also become a storyteller. "

From the Pearl of the Orient to the Uptown

"After a workshop on how community problems may be communicated through art, four young adult members of KM created a video based on their lived experiences. Issues pertinent to the youth, such as forced migration, family separation, cultural adjustment, and struggles in school and the workforce were addressed. Working collaboratively, the participants interviewed and filmed each other. The resulting 7 minute movie represents the montaged interviews of the youth, serving as a collective portrait of how global problems and struggles are experienced on very personal levels.(...) The movie also represents how collective art production can be activated for self-representation and social recognition."

Jet Lag

"This work refers to the temporary disruption of bodily rhythms resulting from travel across several time zones. Distance, space, and time potentially have difficult consequences on the body and mind, but when we come to terms with the differences, we adapt our notion of what it means to be a person. Jet Lag calls for a state of rest, and by extension, the need to dream, imagine, and remember the places that make us who we are."

The Tinikling Lesson

"This production documents a novice dance performance. It consists of 2 videos; one depicts the process of learning a Filipino folk dance and the other is a looped version of the steps. While one video shows the rhythmic repetition of the dance steps, the other exposes my fumbles and awkwardness in learning this dance. This elucidates how one is simultaneously the process and product of cultural influences. These videos are projected and juxtaposed in the corner of the room to create a meeting place and space where cultural identity is recreated."

Photos