Through the Ground Glass explores a dialogue between the historical work of Ottawa photographer William James Topley and the practices of six contemporary artists: Lori Blondeau, Chun Hua Catherine Dong, Anique Jordan, Neeko Paluzzi, Adrian Stimson, and Geneviève Thauvette. These artists engage with image manipulation, hauntology, costumes, and theatricality to challenge established narratives and reclaim agency through portraiture.
Topley’s innovative use of the composite technique, similar to cut-and-paste collage, highlights photography’s power to construct compelling stories. In parallel, the contemporary artists in this exhibition draw on this principle to resist, deconstruct, and critique existing frameworks, creating works that envision and catalyze new possibilities for identity and representation.