DOGA BASKAN/THE VARSITY

As night falls, 2024 Nuit Blanche show invites the city to explore the concept of distance. This year’s theme, Bridging Distance, calls on us to think about distance not only in the physical sense but also between people, places, experiences, cultures, and emotions.

DOGA BASKAN/THE VARSITY

As I was walking around the art pieces, their use of light, sound, and movement made me think of the concept of ‘distance’ in different narratives. How do we feel distance? How do we close it? How do we express its presence? What happens when we don’t close or express it?

DOGA BASKAN/THE VARSITY

Each exhibition had its own story — its own introduction. Even though the displays showed distinct stories and perspectives, each had a unique way of creating intimacy between the observant and the art piece. Some used private cabins with telephones installed within reciting poems to those who picked up the receiver. Some used games like ruth or Dare to get you to meet people around you and share memorable experiences.

DOGA BASKAN/THE VARSITY

Wandering around with all these questions and thoughts in mind, I couldn’t help but notice that the answer to those previous questions is the art itself. In a big city like Toronto, I found intimacy and sincerity on the crowded streets. Through Nuit Blanche, the city transformed into a shared space for connection — a connection that bridges the distances. A night full of life and art, the ‘barriers’ we usually have in our daily lives dissolved into the night.

This whole experience not only provides you with beautiful art to gaze upon but also makes you feel you are part of something larger, connected to the art itself, to people, and to the city as well — all woven together by the magic of Nuit Blanche.

DOGA BASKAN/THE VARSITY