Exposure Toronto
Self Portrait By Tiana Smith
How do you control the narrative as an artist with limited access to power?
I had the opportunity to speak about my journey as a photographer with Exposure Toronto. I spoke about how I prioritize my life as an artist, and the ways in which I'm unapologetic when it comes to taking up space. The organizations goal is to build a safe and accessible space within the Toronto area, both online and offline. Their goal is to also provide financial and physical resources, as well as opportunities to Black creatives.
“You make do with your circumstance. I truly believe if you’re going to be somewhere, you’re going to get there based on how hard you work. Unfortunately, that’s not the narrative for everyone but there are so many gatekeeping aspects that can affect your success. Speaking from my own experience, I have always gone where I am wanted and I am not going to push myself into spaces that aren’t for me. There’s only so many Black women, queer women, and marginalized people in spaces doing what I want to do. I had to understand that I am not always going to see myself in the reflection in the audience but I still want to be able to take up space regardless. People need to know that I am still advocating for who I am, and for those like me. When I began really taking photography seriously I had to learn to really be confident in who I am because no one was going to advocate for me as much as me but I also had to be sure of myself to create the stories I wanted to tell. It's more about how I can tell stories that relate to folks in a way where they can see that there is possibility for themselves to be seen in the way they want to be presented. I do feel like we at times play on this narrative that no one is telling my story, but I had to really remind myself that I had to be the one to do that, because I knew no one would do that for me. I know where I came from, and yes it was hard, but moving forward where do I go from here? Finding ways to take up space, based on what we are given is a fight for what we want now. The spaces that you want to be in seem far, but doing what you can to still make your voice heard is a necessary part of being an artist. We are all looking to be our best selves, but we still have to do our part prior to getting there. As a Black queer woman, there are so many elements about you that make others disregard, or downplay your success. You have to understand that it’s going to be a journey regardless.”