MBD Origin Story Maya Ben David
Who am I? You sure you want to know?
The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody said it was a happy little tale… if somebody told you I was just your average guy, not a care in the world… somebody lied.
But, let me assure you: this, like any other story worth telling, is all about a gal.
MBD: Origin Story, an exhibition by Maya Ben David, is a multimedia reflection on her first character Air Canada Gal. Exploring themes of cosplay, embodiment, and anthropomorphism through performance and fan fiction, Ben David reconsiders the character — this time hyper aware of what it means to animate, imitate, and manipulate a personified and sexualized machine. Positioned within an uncanny Spider-Man universe, Air Canada Gal falls subject to the tropes of the comic book heroine.
About the Artist
Maya Ben David (MBD) is a Toronto-based video and performance artist. Through video, she draws attention to moments in animation, film, and popular culture that explore simulations of the “real” and sentience through appropriated and nostalgic media. Ben David’s practice often explores online fan communities that involve anthropomorphized/sexualized fictional characters. By making her own Fan Art and “Cosplay”, Ben David is able to gender-bend and give new narratives to well-known cartoon characters.
Documentation by Polina Teif