Folio is a section bridging the printed page with unexpected media, hosted by a different artist or curator each issue. In this edition, Omar Badrin offers a series of surreal, provocative crochet masks made with mason’s twine and other unorthodox materials, a nod to his upbringing in Newfoundland. 
For this Folio edition, I’ve chosen works of mine with which I have a deeper personal connection.
There are a couple of reasons I feel closer to these pieces in particular. Most of the time, I’m not entirely pleased with my work. I often have to put the finished pieces away for extended periods of time before exhibiting them.
That’s not the case with these works. With these, I was immediately happy with the finished product. That in itself is special, but it does not always come through for the viewer. I hope that, in this case, it will be more legible for the reader.
Experimentation with materials is also an important aspect of my practice. I like how the materials in these pieces came together to form something cohesive, while preserving their distinctive textures and movement.
Omar Badrin obtained his MFA at the Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2015, where he was awarded a graduate medal for his work in the Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art Media and Design program. Since graduating, he has received project and travel grants from the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Canada Council for the Arts