Description
Colin White is interested in how cityscapes grow and change. His work primarily focuses on the urban environment and how it evolves with the people who live there. Informed by his background in illustration, the artist’s work highlights the narrative qualities of its subjects. The buildings he sketches are visually appealing, but also have stories to tell. Starting in 2006, he focused on annotating the landmarks and disappearing storefronts in his Ottawa neighborhood. This series of ink drawings focuses on buildings on Somerset Street in Ottawa’s Chinatown. The images show aging structures and businesses; places that have been an important part of the community for years. The artist is not only documenting the changing face of a city, but the memories of its inhabitants. White always had a creative disposition, exploring filmmaking and animation in his teens. He completed his BFA in 2002 from Concordia University (Montreal) and MA in 2004 from London College of Printing (London, England). He has had solo exhibits in Ottawa and participated in numerous group shows. In 2015 White organized and put on a group show entitled Forgotten Spaces which was held in an alleyway. In 2016 he helped establish the Ottawa Urban Sketchers group.