Natasha and I took a trip to the Art Gallery of Ontario to check out their latest exhibit, The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century. As lovers of both art and music (as many realize once they experience an Artbox workshop), we knew this was something we had to checkout—and it didn't disappoint.
From the moment we walked in, the vibe instantly changed from other floors of the AGO. The exhibit is a strong display of Hip-Hop’s influence on visual art, fashion, and social movements. It showcased everything from graffiti to high fashion, from album cover photography to thought-provoking installations that break down Hip-Hop’s global impact. Seeing how artists translate the rhythm, storytelling, and raw emotion of Hip-Hop into visual form was pretty inspiring.
One of the standout pieces for us was m.A.A.d. by Kahlil Joseph, which was labeled as a "contemporary portrait of Compton, California." This installation used two video screens to give you two different perspectives of the same film, navigating through predominantly black neighbourhoods. We initially intended to take a peek for a few seconds, but were drawn in by the powerful visuals, and ended up staying for the entirety of the short film.
Beyond the artwork itself, the exhibit made me think about how much Hip-Hop has shaped our everyday lives—not just in music, but in style, attitude, and even the way we create. There’s something about the DIY spirit of Hip-Hop that resonates with the way we encourage people to experiment and express themselves in our workshops.
If you haven’t been yet, we highly recommend checking out The Culture at the AGO. Whether you grew up with Hip-Hop or you’re just beginning to appreciate its influence.
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