The Symbolic Self

Collage self-portraits created using found images, personal archival materials and symbolic representations of personality traits.

By Never Gallery Ready (NgR)

Young at Heart (2016) by grade 8 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

I am...

Students begin with generating "I am..."-statements about themselves. (left) I am young at heart.

Untitled Self-Portrait (2017) by grade 10 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

I am opinionated.

Untitled Self-Portrait (2016) by grade 9 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

I am lost.

Hijabi Girl Brave (2011) by grade 10 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

I am brave.

Determined (2016) by grade 8 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Precise (2016) by grade 9 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Untitled Self-Portrait (2007)Never Gallery Ready (NgR)

Couch Potato (2011) by grade 10 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Stand-ins

Students use symbolic representations and visual puns that can act as "stand-ins" to help direct understandings of their I am statements.

Alone (2016) by grade 9 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

A Quiet Place (2016) by grade 9 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Right Angle Round World (2016) by grade 5 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

a player who can move only in right angle/L formation.

existing in a rounded world.

My Story Arc (2017) by grade 11 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Untitled Self-Portrait (2016) by grade 8 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

I am Curious (2011) by grade 8 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

What I'm Up Against

They further develop the meaning of works by making thoughtful choices when placing their symbolic self on an appropriate background image that "set the scene" and defines the conditions that have formed their personality traits.

Epic Journey (2013) by grade 6 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

I am Trying (2015) by grade 10 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Unafraid (2016) by grade 9 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Untitled Self-Portrait (2016) by grade 9 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Untitled Self-Portrait (2017) by grade 10 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Multifaceted Me

Students use collage's ability to mix multiple points of view and vastly different environments in the same world in order to tell a story about the many life experiences that shape who they are.

Expanding Me (2016) by grade 9 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Untitled Self-Portrait (2016) by grade 9 studentNever Gallery Ready (NgR)

Credits: Story

Works in this exhibit were produced in schools across Southern Ontario with the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council's Artists in Education funding program.

Credits: All media

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

Never Gallery Ready (NgR)

Stories from Never Gallery Ready (NgR)

Online Exhibit