The Toque Project
The Toque Project
By Celine Simpson
How befitting is the toque to people who experience the winter under a whitish film, the salty mist settling not unpleasantly into our bones. Even the lackadaisical slouch of the knitted hat seems a symbol of the damp winter melancholy that can creep upon a Vancouverite from time to time. It suits our mellow demeanour, and goes perfectly with our gum boots and woollen pea coats. We wear our Canadiana well.
The Toque Project provides a representation from an intimate and somewhat unusual vantage point. An element of anonymity allows the toque to be the primary focus, yet is a nod to the vivid and diverse individuals that peep out from beneath them. The fifty five portraits, collected between 2011 and 2013, are a snapshot of the distinct and subtle culture that often exists inconspicuously within a single city.
