The Art Gallery Problem

The “art gallery problem” is a well-known math problem with a simple premise: what is the minimum number of guards or surveillance cameras necessary to observe an entire gallery? Across different layouts and floorplans, the art gallery problem challenges math students to achieve full surveillance of a space using the minimum labour or technology. The problem is not put to use by major museums and galleries, however, despite replicating their standard operations. Even so, it remains a dominant understanding of art’s presentation.

This exhibition appropriates the art gallery problem as a framework to consider how objects and bodies are put to work in galleries and museums. The “problem” is in fact not singular: there is far more to the presentation of art than the securitization of objects; there are problems of narrative, representation, hegemony, and access to knowledge.

The art gallery problem highlights a set of underlying assumptions that animate museums and galleries, including surveillance, labour, visuality, law, and ownership. As significant human labour and technologies are mobilized for the preservation and display of objects, it bears asking: Do norms of exhibition and display serve audiences and galleries alike? What are the alternatives to reification, permanence, ownership, and surveillance? What are other ways for living with objects?
Programs

The Art Gallery Problem is accompanied by performances, screenings, and discussions that extend and elaborate works in the exhibition, and expand and complicate the curatorial premise.

Public programs engage with institutional spaces adjacent to galleries—atriums, “crush” spaces, theatres, lecture halls—which are designed for similar ends of observation and optimization. Through programs, additional facets of the “problem” will come into view—including its sociopolitical implications beyond the arts alone.

All programs are free and open to the public. Please register to attend. For full information about these events, visit The Blackwood website.

Hollow Bones: Screening and Conversation

Thursday, January 23, 2025, 7–9pm
Innis Town Hall Cinema, 2 Sussex Ave, Toronto

Screening of works by Karthik Pandian and a discussion with Pandian and Mike Forcia

Presented in partnership with the Centre for South Asian Critical Humanities at UTM and the Cinema Studies Institute at the University of Toronto.

FREE and open to all. Register.

On Both Sides of the River

Friday, January 24, 12pm
Collaborative Digital Research Space, Maanjiwe Nendamowinan 3230, University of Toronto Mississauga

Discussion with Karthik Pandian and Naisargi N. Davé.

Presented in partnership with the Centre for South Asian Critical Humanities at UTM.

FREE and open to all. Register.

Y'All Don't Wanna Hear Me (You Just Wanna Dance)

Thursday, February 6. Time to be announced.
Meet at Blackwood Gallery, 140 Kaneff Centre. Performance concludes at CCT Atrium, lower level CCT.

Performance by Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste followed by a discussion with Erica Cardwell and Robyn Maynard.

Presented in partnership with Black at UTM.

FREE and open to all. Registration coming soon.

Friction Atlas: Discussion

Saturday, March 1, 12pm
CCT Atrium, University of Toronto Mississauga

Discussion with Sneha Mandhan, Paolo Patelli, and Scott Sorli

FREE and open to all. Register.

The Blackwood gratefully acknowledges the support of the University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, Jackman Humanities Institute, Instituta Italiano di Cultura, and Mondriaan Fund.