Saturday October 11 - People by M.E.

M.E.

People

11 - 31 October 2025

Who do you remember? Who do you forget? Who do you want to forget?

People is a solo exhibition by Magda Ewelina (M.E.), informed from the space it inhabits, and those that surround it. The exhibition consists of a series of never before seen sculptural, assemblage-based objects utilizing a range of found materials collected from sites such as the La Biennale di Venezia, Art Toronto, local grocers, and other such contexts. These floor-based sculptures investigate the display of personas in an intimate gallery space (former artist studio) known as the gallery People. Items such as tote bags become layered with added materials, bedazzled with a myriad of objects related to the body and other such accessories. The sculptures are arranged in an even row around the space, evoking a notion of seriality and appearing as an unusual gathering of peoples, now on display

People is the first presentation in Vancouver by the Polish-Canadian collective who uses recycled and common materials from various aspects of traditional and contemporary life to speak to self sufficiency, agricultural practice, personhood, social hierarchy and identity, among other motifs. M.E.’s use of materials invites us to examine relationships to one another, as well as the objects that sometimes hold these relationships.

After this presentation, M.E. will host a Polish lunch from the Polonia Sausage Deli, located across from the People Gallery at 4286 Fraser Street. Details forthcoming. Free kielbasa, cheese, bread and sweets will be provided. This exhibition is made possible thanks to Unit 17.

Magda Ewelina (M.E.) is an artist collective that takes its form as an envisioned persona intended to promote anonymity, creativity and nostalgia. M.E.’s Polish and Canadian background allows the persona to recall simpler times, pointing to and remembering the past that in a sense felt more rich, vibrant and alive. M.E. is a gateway to Europe for this artist collective who aim to promote a nomadic practice, often focusing on resourcefulness and play. By utilizing motifs of the kitchen, the garden and other domestic sites, including the heavy use of recycled and common materials, M.E. attempts to use all resources to their maximum potential - often resulting in examples of functional reappropriation.