Dave Kemp is a visual artist whose practice looks at the intersections and interactions between art, science and technology: particularly at how these fields shape our perception and understanding of the world.  Dave is currently working on his PhD in Art and Visual Culture at the University of Western Ontario and is a graduate from the Master of Visual Studies program at the University of Toronto where he also completed the Collaborative Program in Knowledge Media Design. Prior to this, he earned an Image Arts (photography) BFA from Ryerson University and his BScE in Mechanical Engineering at Queen’s University.

http://davekemp.ca

Education

Master of Visual Studies (Studio Art), University of Toronto
Knowledge Media Design Collaborative Program, University of Toronto
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Image Arts, Photography), Ryerson University
Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering), Queen’s University

Research

As a visual artist and an engineer with an interest in the intersections of art and science, I  find art has a distinct advantage when dealing with difficult questions, primarily because it does not strive to provide definitive answers, but instead presents critique, raises awareness of the issues and provides a framework so that viewers can develop their own conclusions. Specifically I am interested in  the following research questions: How do science and technology affect our perception and understanding of the world? What are the social implications of science and technology? And how do social, cultural and political forces shape and exert themselves through science and technology? These are rather large questions and ones not easily answered through typical empirical research methods, but with the increased dependency on science and technology in our daily lives, they become very pressing questions and serve as the basis for my research and visual art production.

Exhibitions

Selected solo exhibitions
2007                  Image Matter, curated by Francesco Corsaro, IPO Gallery, Ottawa, ON
2007                  Image Matter, curated by Ana Klasnja, !deas Gallery (in the Ontario Science Centre), Toronto, ON
2006                  Image Matter, Visual Studies Department, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON                 
2002                  Reconstructed Bodies, Luft Gallery, Toronto, ON
2001                  Out of the Ordinary, Ryerson Gallery, Toronto, ON

Selected group exhibitions
2011                  Sorting Daemons: Art, Surveillance Regimes and Social Control, curated by Jan Allen and Sarah E.K.                   Smith, Art Gallery of Mississauga, ON
2011                  Revisting Ephemera, ArtLAB, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
2010                  Sorting Daemons: Art, Surveillance Regimes and Social Control, curated by Jan Allen and Sarah E.K.                   Smith, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston, ON
2008                  Infra-Ordinary, Modern Fuel Gallery, Kingston, ON
2007                  Mobile City, curated by Dana Samuel, Interaccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, Toronto, ON
2007                  Shift, curated by Laura Berazadi and Olivia Lam, Gales Gallery, York University, Toronto, ON
2007                  Beta in beta, Interaccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, Toronto, ON
2007                  UofT MVS 2007 Graduating Exhibition, curated by David Liss, Visual Studies Department, University of                   Toronto, Toronto, ON
2003                  runLomorun, curated by Pamila Matharu, York Quay Gallery, Toronto, ON
2003                  INsideOUT, Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
2002                  In Memoriam/In Gratitude, Ryerson Gallery, Toronto, ON                                                     
2001                  The Bathroom Show, curated by Jennifer Long and Selena Cristo, Luft Gallery, Toronto, ON
2001                  Lux Nova: A Low Tech Explosion, curated by Diane Bos and Jennifer Long, York Quay Gallery, Toronto,                  ON

Collections
2009                  Canada Council Art Bank – Image Matter
2007                  Queen’s University, Department of Physics – Image Matter

Screenings and performances
2008                  "Track", Kino 05 screening, Camera Bar, Toronto, ON
2008                  Taken: a camera obscura van project, Modern Fuel Gallery, Kingston, ON
2007                  Taken: a camera obscura van project, Interaccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, Toronto, ON

Professional Activity

Conferences:
2011 “Reevaluating Value: New Forms of Value Resulting from Advances in Digital Technologies – Specifically as related to Photographs”. Revisiting Ephemera conference, University of Western Ontario
2010 “Data Collection: Every Card is a Database”. Sorting Daemons Symposium organized by the Agnes Etherington Art Centre and Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario

Professional affiliations
InterAccess Electronic Media Art Centre - Board of Directors, Chair of Programming Committee

Technical consultation, design and fabrication for other artists
Michael Awad – Pixel Cube, 2009
Don Simmons – Bachelor Forever, 2009
Lisa Steel and Kim Tomczak - Short Life, Long Nights, Keep Dreaming, 2008
David Rokeby – Cloud at the Ontario Science Centre, 2006, 2007
Susan Schelle – Water Towers, Blue Screen and others 2006 to present
Av Isaacs – Isaacs Seen publication, 2005
Jessica Thompson – Soundbike, 2005
Germaine Koh – Shell, Relay, “...”, POS, Ouvert/Open and others, 2004

Teaching

Instructor -  Introduction to Contemporary Media (VAS 2252A), University of Western Ontario
Coordinator/Facilitator - MediaGenerator, a co-curricular activity at The University of Toronto at Mississauga
Instructor - Pinhole Photography (numerous workshops), Gallery 44
TA - Human Factors and User-Centred Design (SOSC 3B27/VISC 3B27), Ontario College of Art and Design
TA - Integrated Photo-based Explorations (VIS 318), University of Toronto
TA - Photo-based (Digital) (VIS 218), University of Toronto
TA - Photo-based (Chemical) (VIS 217, University of Toronto