This September, Bau-Xi Gallery | Dufferin is proud to present “Paper Thin,” an introspective exhibition by Toronto-based painter, Erin Armstrong. This show will be exhibited at the gallery’s Toronto flagship location, 1384 Dufferin Street from September 12th to October 3rd. Please join us for the opening reception on Saturday, September 14th from 2 – 5 pm with the artist in attendance.

In her latest collection, Armstrong delves into solitude, self-reflection, and the human condition, inspired by a transformative year marked by personal loss and self-examination. Armstrong masterfully uses her signature abstracted figures and dynamic brushwork to explore internal turmoil and universal experiences, inviting viewers to reflect on their own journeys.

Armstrong states: “My upcoming exhibition ‘Paper Thin’ explores themes of solitude, self-reflection, and the human condition through the lens of a challenging and transformative year in my life. The unexpected loss of my father in January, coupled with health issues and the end of a significant relationship, led me to spend much of the year in introspection and isolation. This period of grief and self-examination compelled me to retreat into my own world, confronting the profound ways we experience loss and time.

The works in this exhibition feature singular figures set against flat, colour fields, juxtaposing the serene external with the chaotic internal. Through gestural brushwork, patterning, and pouring techniques, I sought to highlight the internal turmoil and swirling emotions that define our inner lives. The gradient of colours within the figures reflects the body's shifting states of fear, joy, and anger, while some figures, seen juggling multiple elements, symbolize the daily balancing act we all perform in our lives.

One figure in particular, with hands raised and mouth open, embodies a cry for answers to existential questions about life and death. The figures are spotlighted within semi-circles, placed on the center stage of their own existence, inviting viewers to engage with their expressions of confusion, tension, and melancholy.

These abstracted forms represent both no one and everyone, allowing viewers to project their own experiences and emotions onto the work. My intention is not to present a literal narrative but to capture the essence of a deeply personal journey and evoke the universal experience of seeking meaning. ‘Paper Thin’ aims to transcend the literal, offering a space for reflection on the complexities of our inner worlds and the shared human experience.”