Lillian Allen
Curated by aja monet
Writer, performer and long-time arts activist, Lillian Allen is an acclaimed foremother of Canadian poetry and the current distinguished Poet Laureate of Toronto. Her practice veers dub poetry into utterance and vocal sonics, exploring pre-language and post-language poetics while intertwining her cultural roots with contemporary elements of music, sound and literary culture. Her work resonates history, memory, emotion, human interconnectedness and visionary futures, establishing her as a leading international exponent of politically charged, reggae-infused dub poetry with its aesthetic of resistance. It is a call for love, peace, poetry and transformation. Beyond her artistic activity, she plays a significant role in the Canadian cultural landscape through mentorship and advocacy that opens up opportunities for artists and communities across generations.
This artist is part of the program curated by aja monet. The surrealist blues poet has curated a program that explores themes of resistance, love and the inexhaustible quest for joy.
