Co.Lab Gallery presents

MADISON ABELSON

HOW TO RETURN After Never Leaving

OPENING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, 7-10 PM

Exhibition closes November 14th, 2024.

How To Return After Never Leaving is the debut solo exhibition of Madison Ableson, known also familiarly as Tallrat. In How To Return After Never Leaving, she explores the concept of the singular object through a patchwork lens, creating a visual narrative that feels both whimsical and forlorn. As a Maker—an identity that resonates deeply within— her work is a dialogue between memory and imagination, shaped by high-contrast colour choices that evoke impact and direction. 

Her artistic journey is heavily influenced by growing up rural on St. Joseph’s Island, where long hours spent in nature fueled her fantasies and sparked a deep connection to the enchanting elements of life. Drawing influence from mediaeval relics, dreamscapes, items in decay, and the rich symbolism of woodland animals, Ableson crafts pieces using pencil, micron pens, acrylics, inks, and collage work. 

This exhibition embodies the essence of escapism, delving into the depths of memory and transformation.

It poses poignant questions: Did you lose something along the way, or was it a deliberate choice to let go? If you were to return, would the past still hold the same magic? Could your past talk to your future, would you be your own hero? Are you proving it?

As Madison invites viewers to dig deeper into the depths of their former and future selves, she hopes to remind them that all these experiences are still within us. To move forward, we must first return, holding onto the remnants of our past selves—those pieces that still glimmer with hope and beauty..