(Recap from July 2023)
In July 2023, Trinity Square Video was transformed into something far beyond a traditional gallery space. The Space in Between, a poignant exhibition by multisensory artist Salima Punjani, invited visitors to step into an environment that reimagined what an art space could be—a place not just to observe but to feel, connect, and participate.
Running from July 21 to 23, with thoughtfully curated receptions spread across three days, the exhibition welcomed the public into what felt more like an intimate living room than a conventional gallery. Soft furnishings and cozy arrangements replaced stark white walls and rigid displays, creating a sanctuary for reflection, conversation, and sensory exploration.
Punjani, grounded in relational aesthetics, spent the preceding month in residence at Trinity Square Video, curating a series of informal gatherings with approximately 30 artists from Toronto’s Mad, Deaf, and Disability arts communities. These gatherings, centered around shared meals and authentic dialogue, were audio recorded and later transformed into a multisensory listening experience using vibrotactile technology. Visitors were not just passive observers; they were invited to ‘vibe out,’ experiencing sound not only through their ears but through their bodies, blurring the lines between listening and feeling.
The Space in Between was more than an exhibition—it was a participatory, relational art project that celebrated softness, slowness, and the unspectacular moments that often hold the deepest connections. The project created an intentional space for Mad, Deaf, and Disabled artists to gather without the pressure of performance or expectation, fostering a sense of community rooted in care, presence, and mutual respect.
Accessibility was woven seamlessly into the fabric of the exhibition. ASL interpretation, an active listener, and a sensory care station were available, alongside a detailed Access Guide, reflecting Punjani’s commitment to creating environments where everyone could feel welcomed and engaged.
Salima Punjani’s work continually challenges the boundaries of how art is experienced. Her focus on multisensory engagement, anti-urgency, and the aesthetics of care offers a profound reflection on connection in all its forms. The Space in Between wasn’t just an exhibition you visited; it was an experience you carried with you—a gentle reminder of the beauty found in the quiet spaces where community and art intertwine.
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Based in Montréal, this artist explores the intersection of art and care, drawing on a Master’s in Social Work from McGill University. Their work transforms biological data and sensory experiences into immersive projects that foster empathy and connection. Describing themselves as a renconteuse—a storyteller who meets and connects—they create installations and documentaries that engage with themes of social isolation, collective memory, and cultural narratives. Recent projects include Will You Pass the Salt?, The Cost of Entry is a Heartbeat, Progression, Konbit Anba Soley, and Moms of Montréal.
Founded in 1971, it is one of Canada’s first artist-run centres and its oldest media arts centre. We are a not-for-profit, charitable organization.
For 50 years, Trinity Square has been a champion of media arts practices. Our activities are guided by a goal to increase our members’ and audiences’ understanding and imagination of what media arts practices can be. Trinity Square strives to create supportive environments, encouraging artistic and curatorial experimentation that challenge medium specificity through education, production and presentation supports.
As video-based practices have become increasingly present across disciplines, Trinity Square engages artists and curators in critical investigations into the changing conditions of perception, materiality and the virtual. We consider all of our artistic activities and structures through a process of critical self-reflection, continuously evaluating the ethical positioning of our programming, jury structures, inter-organizational relationships, et cetera. In addition to holding aesthetic worth in its own right, our artistic programming extends our education and production activities in order to generate new knowledges.
Trinity Square’s programming is guided by three priorities: 1) promoting an expanded definition of media arts; 2) promoting the meaningful engagement of diverse voices in all levels of our operations; and 3) supporting and nurturing the production of new works by artists and curators. Our membership represents the diversity of the city and honours the original mandate of the organization—seeking to reduce barriers to access related to race, gender, sexual orientation, and socio- economic and physical ability.
