Still Tho: Aesthetic Survival in Hip Hop’s Visual Art

Curated by Mark V. Campbell, Still Tho is an ode to the visual artists in Canada who shaped hip hop culture and its visual aesthetics. In this group exhibition featuring artists from across Canada, an array of mix-media works explores the growth, influence and importance of graffiti art and its aesthetic legacies.

The phrase “Still Tho” in the exhibition’s title refers to a common expression in hip-hop culture that speaks to these artists’ perseverance, their overcoming numerous barriers to make art and build community. Moreover, the exhibition highlights the lasting impact of hip hop’s visual art on both Canadian culture and visual aesthetics in our digital age.

Feature image: Still from “Moments of Movement, Freestyle Dance Video Series #104 – Tafiya”, Mark Valino, 2022.

Opening Reception

All are welcome to a celebratory reception for MSVU Art Gallery’s Fall exhibitions, ‘Still Tho,’ curated by Mark V. Campbell and ‘East of East Atlantic Hip Hop Archive’, curated by Michael McGuire. The curators and several artists will be in attendance. DJ DTS will play a live set throughout the afternoon. 

Opening remarks will be held at 1:30pm in the Gallery. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available. Like all our events, this is free to attend and there is free parking on campus.

MSVU Art Gallery is dedicated to making our exhibitions accessible to all. Information about access, location, and interpretive services can be found in the About section of our website.

Please contact art.gallery@msvu.ca for any access requests, service needs, or inquiries.

Audio Companion

About the Curator

Mark V. Campbell is the founder of Northside Hip Hop Archive, and he has spent two decades in the Toronto hip-hop scene djing on the ‘Bigger Than Hip-Hop’ radio show from 1998-2015. Since the launch of Northside in 2010, Mark has curated exhibitions of archival items and artistic works related to Canadian hip-hop on three continents, including The T-Dot Pioneers Trilogy, 2010-2013, Mixtapes: Hip Hop’s Lost Archive, …Everything Remains Raw: Photographing Toronto Hip Hop Culture from Analogue to Digital as part of the 2018 Contact Festival exhibition at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and For the Record: An Idea of the North at the TD Gallery in Toronto.

Events

September 20th, 1pm – 4pm: Open Studio for STUDENTS with the artists in Still Tho. Get a sneak peek of the exhibition and meet the artists Mark Valino, Eklipz and Wizwon and curator Mark Campbell.

September 21st, 1pm – 3pm: Opening reception with live set by DJ DTS.

September 25th, 9:30am – 11:30am: Free Coffee – drop in for free coffee and snacks and take in the exhibition with the gallery staff!

October 1st – 6th: Artists Mique Michelle, Kalkidan Assefa and Darren Pyper (Ghettosocks) will be collaborating on creating a mural on the corner of the Bedford Highway and Melody Dr. Stop by to check out the progress.

October 17th: Hopscotch Opening Party

Respect the Architects

(Mural on the corner of Melody Drive & Bedford Highway)
Kalkidan Assefa, Mique Michelle, Darren Pyper

MSVU Art Gallery and the North Side Hip Hop Archive are thrilled to present a new mural on the Bedford Highway by Kalkidan Assefa (Ottawa), Mique Michelle (Nipissing Ouest) and Darren Pyper, a.k.a Ghettosocks (Halifax) in conjunction with the exhibition “Still Tho: Aesthetic Survival of Hip Hop’s Visual Art.”

The mural centres on the phrase “Respect the Architects,” celebrating the unsung heroes who created the space and scenarios for hip hop to thrive. Each artist reflected on this expression in their contribution to the design.

Kalkidan Assefa (Dripping Soul) chose to honour the pioneers of East Coast/Atlantic hip hop, focusing on Black Nova Scotian communities. Areas like Uniacke Square—where some Africville residents were relocated—were among the first in the region to embrace hip hop’s underlying themes of social and economic disenfranchisement. Assefa highlighted the emcee, one of hip hop’s four elements, as the voice that connected these communities with others who shared similar experiences.

Mique Michelle pays homage to the women of hip hop who are often overlooked as contributors to the culture, collaborators, or solo artists. Too often, they are seen as “assistants.” Inspired by Atlantic Canada’s heavy-hitting women emcees, the globally trailblazing women of hip hop, and their stories, Mique Michelle created three characters who are a mashup of past, present, and future Femme presence. Mique Michelle adds, “Let’s not forget to write ourselves into the future while respecting those who created the foundation.”  She invites viewers to take a closer at the mural to find a dozen local easter eggs scattered throughout.

Ghettosocks believes that the founders of hip hop (like DJ Kool Herc) intended to bring people together by celebrating life and culture through their music. This essence permeates the wall and will hold it down until the next iteration inevitably seizes its place.

“Painting this mural with Mique and Kal has been a beautiful experience. Collaboration is one of the many incredible aspects of hip hop, and I feel privileged to be included amongst such a pair of immense talent.”