Collecting Across Borders

Inspired by Virus of Collecting (Nazar Publication, 2020) by Parviz Tanavoli, this curatorial show delves into the intricate relationship between art, the collector, and the life that unfolds around them. Tanavoli’s memoir, rich with personal stories and intimate reflections, reveals the profound connections between the artist-collector and the artworks that populate his world.

Rather than merely assembling art objects, this show celebrates collecting as a lifestyle and a marker of social belonging. It invites viewers to engage with the nuanced collector culture of Toronto, where art serves not only as a visual pleasure but as an extension of the collector’s identity. The artworks, carefully curated to echo the lived experiences of their owners, embody a dialogue between the pieces and the spaces they inhabit, blurring the lines between art and life.

This exhibition space is designed to evoke the essence of a collector’s living quarters—a space where art is lived with, rather than simply displayed. It is a continuous conversation between the collector and their collection, a reflection of taste, passion, and idiosyncrasies that shape the collector’s world.