Juliana Silva

Dance Forms in the Street

March 4 - May 5, 2025

Above: Installation view of "Dance Forms in the Street" at Trout Lake Community Centre, 2024, Courtesy of the artist.

Drawing from ancient and contemporary festivals in Colombia, Juliana Silva’s Dance Forms in the Street presents four large digital prints on textile in conjunction with a stop-motion animation, which explore the celebratory and healing origins of street carnivals and festivals. It highlights the convergence of ritual elements such as dance, music, and costume, showcasing the sense of joy and community found in these gatherings. 

Intricate fabric patterns weave together cultural elements observed during the artist’s visits to Colombia’s Blacks and Whites Carnival and Cali Fair, including braids and hats representing women working in the fields, panthers evoking volcanic strength, and jingle bells worn by dancers marking the start of festivities. These vibrant textile works reflect a fusion of Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and Spanish influences, celebrating the rich multicultural lineage of these events.

According to Colombian historian Diana Uribe, many of these carnivals and festivals originated as a form of gratitude for life, as well as a way to overcome adversity and violence. Beyond expressions of joy, they also serve as spaces for participants to denounce injustices, creating a collective platform for social commentary. Inspired by this transformative power, the artist invites audiences to reflect on the universal languages of dance and music, fostering connections across cultures and generations.

Biography

Juliana Silva is a Vancouver-based multidisciplinary artist and educator originally from Colombia. She holds an MFA from Emily Carr University of Art + Design and has exhibited in Colombia and Canada. Silva’s practice spans sculpture, installation, photography, painting, and animation, with textiles serving as both a medium and metaphor. Her art aims to uncover the hidden narratives embedded in objects, particularly textiles, which she sees as expressions of cultural identity, history, and social dynamics.

Drawing inspiration from nature, dance, music, and women’s histories, Silva explores themes of healing, community, and collective experience. Through her art, she seeks to create deeper connections between individuals, inviting reflection, celebration, and cultural dialogue.

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