Ambition Takes Flight consists of paintings, sculptures and mixed media works by a diverse group of Canadian artists. These creations offer passengers waiting for their luggage a moment to dream about their own journeys and connections. A total of 157 artists originally applied to have their work shown at Person, with seven selected as winners. In partnership with CIBC, the exhibit runs throughout this year. Check out this week's featured Ambition Takes Flight artist featured below.
Ambition Takes Flight artists
Jason Zante
Inspiring a sense of wanderlust in unfamiliar places
After the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns were lifted, Toronto artist Jason Zante headed off for several warm destinations as a form of escapism. For the Filipino-Canadian, it was a way to refresh and seek inspiration; a way to re-connect with nature through exploration.
"Many of my travels have manifested as artworks because I was very captivated by what I encountered," says Zante, who incorporates references from his Filipino culture into his artwork.
Zante's piece Tahanan, which means 'home' in Tagalog, is a visual homage to the archipelago islands of the Philippines. With its vibrant colours and unique landscape formations, the archipelago's 7,640 islands share a common connection in that they are all surrounded by ethereal waters.
Tahanan reimagines the Palawan region of the Philippines in a surreal composition bursting with tropical beauty and exotic elements. The mixed-media painting is a celebration of travel to unfamiliar regions of the world, enticing us to explore and uncover the natural beauty that already exists.
"I hope people will get a sense of wanderlust through this artwork and that it encourages them to explore undiscovered places," says Zante. "For me, the act of travel means homecoming. It’s a connection to a destination that becomes the pursuit of knowledge, creativity, and spiritual awakening."
Zante always knew he was going to become an artist. Early in his childhood, he was very shy, and art became an outlet to express himself confidently and freely. He went on to receive a degree in graphic design from the Ontario College of Art & Design University, and has since specialized in digital art and mural installations, often depicting themes of natural landscapes and every day leisure.
"As an artist, it's integral to experiment with your work, and that requires ambition and a willingness to be fearless," says Zante. "Ambition has always propelled my artistic journey forward."
Media: Painting
Materials: Created digitally and printed on giclee EPSON Exhibition Canvas SATIN (430 gsm, 23 mil). The surface of the artwork is coated with a high gloss archival varnish.
To see more of Jason Zante’s artwork, visit his website.
Follow Jason on Instagram.
Komi Olafimihan
An outsider's gaze in a floating city sparks one artist's exploration of transportation
Komi Olafimihan didn't expect his 2008 trip to Lagos, Nigeria to impact him in the way it did. He'd ventured out to study the Makoko fishing community as part of his Masters degree in architecture. Roughly one third of Makoko's inhabitants live in homes built on stilts in a lagoon and use boats to get around; Olafimihan's project consisted in part of designing housing that used local recycled materials and redesigning the community transportation systems.
Growing up in Nigeria, Olafimihan's early travel experiences in Europe, America and South America had helped shape and broaden his view of the world. But now, visiting this floating city in his homeland, he was discovering its history of community and learning about the pride people felt in their way of life.
"With my outsider gaze, I had assumed so much that turned out to be false about their way of life," recalls Olafimihan. "The site visit left an impact on my psyche and life in general."
Two years later, Olafimihan shifted from architecture to making art; for him, it felt like a calling. Since then, he has experimented with materials, found objects and technology. More recently, his work has been influenced by Afrofuturism.
The impact of his visit to Makoko is the inspiration for his painting Aquatic Expedition. So too was the change in climate when he immigrated from Nigeria to Canada — the tropical weather of home was a stark contrast to the one of his new adopted land.
"The use of warm and cold colours in the composition is my way of referencing this change in weather," says Olafimihan.
Olafimihan hopes Aquatic Expedition will motivate travellers to explore other means of transportation that enhance their experiences during their journeys.
"Whenever I travel, I leave my comfort zone," says Olafimihan. "I have come to learn that it is always a great time to welcome change and to be receptive to alternate ways of doing things."
Media: Painting
Materials: Acrylic on canvas
To see more of Komi Olafimihan's artwork, visit his website.
Follow Komi Olafimihan on Instagram.
Terminal 1, International Baggage Hall, carousel 6
Serene Chan
Connecting across continents through exchanged messages
Based in Toronto, artist Serene Chan taps her passion in storytelling to create imageries that capture nostalgia and provoke a sense of amazement.
Chan's Never Too Far is inspired by exchanged messages: Whatever note the small red paper plane holds inside, different people from different countries are connected, despite their distinct memories and thoughts. Even though they are on opposite sides of the world, the girl and boy are linked; their exchanged messages represent true freedom without limitations.
"My hope is that my art will inspire others to gain the child-like wonder everyone is capable of experiencing when viewing the world," says Chan, an acrylic painter specializing in surreal fantasy worlds.
Growing up, Chan says she felt extremely socially awkward and spent a lot of time daydreaming different worlds in which she felt she would fit in better. Those imaginary places defy all odds; they are places where stars can be captured with one's bare hands and where dragons roam free — places that she can call home.
"My art is meant for those who feel a little lost in this world," says Chan. "Perhaps they might find a sense of belonging in the fantasy worlds I create."
Chan, who is a self-taught artist, has run her own art website since 2015. She hopes to promote the diverse cultures and rich history of her East Asian heritage, as well as encourage people to see small things in the world with grand imagination.
At times she is inspired by exploring different countries and the connections she makes with customers from abroad who commission her art.
"I feel so fortunate to be able to communicate with individuals residing in places I’ve never visited before, such as Australia, Russia, Germany and Singapore," says Chan, who even visited Japan based on one client's description of his beloved homeland. "They share with me experiences of their cultures and the adventures they’ve been on, and I do the same."
Media: 4 Canvas Paintings
Materials: Print and Framed Poster
To see more of Serene Chan's artwork, visit her website.
Follow Serene Chan on Instagram.
Terminal 1, International Baggage Hall, carousel 13
Andrew Wang
Connecting across continents through exchanged messages
Based in Toronto, artist Serene Chan taps her passion in storytelling to create imageries that capture nostalgia and provoke a sense of amazement.
Chan's Never Too Far is inspired by exchanged messages: Whatever note the small red paper plane holds inside, different people from different countries are connected, despite their distinct memories and thoughts. Even though they are on opposite sides of the world, the girl and boy are linked; their exchanged messages represent true freedom without limitations.
"My hope is that my art will inspire others to gain the child-like wonder everyone is capable of experiencing when viewing the world," says Chan, an acrylic painter specializing in surreal fantasy worlds.
Growing up, Chan says she felt extremely socially awkward and spent a lot of time daydreaming different worlds in which she felt she would fit in better. Those imaginary places defy all odds; they are places where stars can be captured with one's bare hands and where dragons roam free — places that she can call home.
"My art is meant for those who feel a little lost in this world," says Chan. "Perhaps they might find a sense of belonging in the fantasy worlds I create."
Chan, who is a self-taught artist, has run her own art website since 2015. She hopes to promote the diverse cultures and rich history of her East Asian heritage, as well as encourage people to see small things in the world with grand imagination.
At times she is inspired by exploring different countries and the connections she makes with customers from abroad who commission her art.
"I feel so fortunate to be able to communicate with individuals residing in places I’ve never visited before, such as Australia, Russia, Germany and Singapore," says Chan, who even visited Japan based on one client's description of his beloved homeland. "They share with me experiences of their cultures and the adventures they’ve been on, and I do the same."
Media: 4 Canvas Paintings
Materials: Print and Framed Poster
To see more of Serene Chan's artwork, visit her website.
Follow Serene Chan on Instagram.
Terminal 1, International Baggage Hall, carousel 13
Robyn Lightwalker
Reconnecting on a pilgrimage in Spain after life in lockdown
Robyn Lightwalker had just returned from a pilgrimage in Spain when she began to work on Freedom of Connection, her artwork for Toronto Pearson. She knew she wanted to start with the idea of a wing symbolizing flight, but she didn't want to limit her vision. She also sought to incorporate the many people brought together by an airport — the countless cultures and backgrounds.
"I feel like the pandemic bred a lot of distrust in each other, and caused communities to splinter apart," says the Toronto-based artist. "I hope my work can make people see the beauty in human connection again instead of fear and spite."
In Spain, Lightwalker spent days walking a trail with strangers from all over the world. It was the first time she had traveled since the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, and for her the journey signified a renewed freedom to connect with the world beyond the digital realm. She heard stories from other travelers about being separated from their partners, children and communities; about grandparents finally meeting their grandchildren for the first time.
"All these people had such different reasons to travel, but we all shared the same path for a short time," says Lightwalker. "It was the most connected I had felt in a long time."
Lightwalker has been an artist since she could hold a crayon. Her first sale of artwork occurred at an end-of-year exhibit for her 11th grade art class when one of the teachers from her school bought a piece.
Were it not for her artwork, Lightwalker doesn't think she would ever have traveled. It was her work painting murals that allowed her to save enough money for her first trip. She was so inspired by that experience that she then undertook a five week, seven-country trip through Europe.
"Before that, I never even bothered to get my passport because I didn't think I would ever be able to afford to leave the country," says Lightwalker. "I traded hosts for commissioned art; I was hooked."
Media: Sculpture/Painting
Materials: Wood, acrylic paint and varnish.
To see more of Robyn Lightwalker's artwork, check out her Instagram.
Terminal 1, International Baggage Hall, carousel 10
Thea Vu-Nguyen
Capturing the happiness and adventure of travel
Travel is ingrained in artist Thea Vu-Nguyen's life. She has been flying out of Toronto Pearson for as long as she can remember. For her, the airport is where exciting adventures begin.
"My family travels so often that it has become a tradition," says Vu-Nguyen, who is based in Pickering.
It's the photographs that Vu-Nguyen brings home from those travels that help inspire some of her artwork. Every photograph helps her further her skills.
"Not only does it capture a memory, but I find it to be great practice for stylization, creating compositions and testing my ability to extend the colour, something my art teachers always said and it hasn’t left me to this day," says Vu-Nguyen.
Vu-Nguyen's Outbound is based on her own experiences and portrays the happiness and adventure that comes with travel — meeting new people, exploring different cultures, trying new things — not to mention the reminiscing at home that follows after the journey. She combines images of her past travels in a way that makes the real look surreal, mixing her love of vibrant colours, impressionism, landscapes and still life.
Vu-Nguyen's creative process differs slightly depending on the project. Usually, she begins by collecting inspiration on the style and subject matter she wants to create. She keeps a notepad in case random ideas come to mind and makes rough sketches of her concepts. She also uses an iPad to digitally draw, which speeds up the process of playing with colours and compositions.
“If something isn’t working out after trying for a long while, I leave it to the next day," says Vu-Nguyen, who is pursuing a career in UX/UI Design. "Time usually helps to discover new solutions and sometimes you must trust the process."
Vu-Nguyen hopes to continue creating art that is enjoyed by others.
"It’s always rewarding to see your creations bringing a smile to another," she says.
Media: Painting
Materials: Acrylic paint on canvas.
To see more of Thea Vu-Nguyen's artwork, follow her on Instagram.
Terminal 1, International Baggage Hall, carousel 11
Richard Laking
A celebration captured in swirling colours and movement
The inspiration behind artist Richael Laking's Mitakuyepi (All My Relations) is a celebration of Indigenous women from all four directions.
"Often, we are misrepresented in the media from a colonial lens," says Laking. "I think it's important that people see us in our true strength and beauty when they first set foot on Turtle Island in Pearson Airport."
Laking has been artistically interpreting the world and her surroundings since she was old enough to pick up a pencil. Her father recognized her artistry at a young age and nurtured its development while raising her and as a child, Laking attended powwows with her dad in the Thunder Bay area. She says she still remembers the beat of the drums coursing through her body.
"I was immediately transfixed by the fancy shawl dancers," says Laking. "The speed of their feet and the twirl of colours was breathtaking."
Laking's life experiences and her nascent journey of decolonization inspire her work as an artist. She hopes in turn that her art moves viewers to learn more about the diversity of Indigenous nations and voices, in addition to inspiring them with her artworks' colour and sense of movement.
"Through learning and understanding, we will learn how to respect and love while eradicating negative stereotypes and misinformation," says Laking.
In the future, Laking hopes to experiment more in sculpture and other mediums. Now firmly rooted in Toronto, she is excited to travel and connect with other Indigenous artists around the globe.
Media: Painting
Materials: Acrylic paint on canvas
Terminal 1, International Baggage Hall, carousel 7