Our Beneficiary:
Design Hope Toronto Facebook Group
Design HopeArtists
Michael Sillers
Paranoid Hamstering
fake fur small animal paper
About the Work
Paranoid Hamstering is a satirical piece based on our environment and how we cope. The sculptural portion calls attention to the theme of shelter in a way that is both serious and frivolous. We all need shelter and the cage is a representation of that. A book bound in faux fur is the soul inhabitant.
The book contains four satirical stories based on real publications or urban myths. They call attention to some of the issues we deal with in the place we call home and through humour or horror, emphasise the pettiness or seriousness of the issues of our survival.
About the Artist
Michael Sillers was born in London, Ontario and raised in Toronto. He studied at the Ontario College of Art after which he spent several years in the retail photography industry. More recently, his explorations in applying manual techniques to digital photography have been exhibited from Argentina to Texas to Toronto and nearby communities. He continues to paint and combine traditional and new media in his work. Michael's work recently won an honourable mention at the Scarborough Arts Council's annual Juried Show. He is represented by the ACA Gallery in Toronto and is a member of the Artists' Network of Riverdale, actively showing throughout Ontario. Michael is often involved in charity and social causes.
