Shani Mootoo
Encyclopedia
Shani Mootoo is a writer who was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1958 to Trinidadian parents. She was raised in Trinidad
, where she initially began to explore the artistic and literary world. She began writing and creating visual that drew on her ideas regarding sexual relations between members of the same sex. As a victim of sexual abuse, Mootoo found comfort and release in visual art. She was able to use images to express her pent up emotions which she had trouble expressing regarding the abuse she had suffered through as a child.
At the age of nineteen Mootoo relocated to Canada
where earned a Fine Arts Degree at the University of Western Ontario
in 1980. As a multimedia visual artist in Vancouver
she created paintings, photographs and videos that dealt with issues of gender, sexuality, identity, self-loathing and sexual abuse. All of which resonated in Mootoo's experiences as an adolescent in Trinidad
and an adult in Canada
. Exhibitions of Mootoo's multimedia visual artistry have traveled and been acclaimed internationally.
Mootoo’s first literary publication, 1993’s Out on Main Street is a collection of short stories that depicted experiences of Caribbean
women of Indian heritage. Every story explored the common theme of overcoming child abuse, which is heavily evident in everything she does.
Her first full length novel, Cereus Blooms at Night, was published in 1996 and earned ebullient reviews and acclamations including holding positions as a Giller Prize finalist in 1997, earning the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize
, as well as being nominated for the Chapters Books in Canada First Novel Award, and was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize
. Set on an imaginary island in paradise, narrated by a male nurse and caretaker whom has come to terms with his homosexuality, the novel further explores the issues of adolescent sexual abuse and romance that confronts the boundaries of heterosexuality and homosexuality.
In 2001, Mootoo followed up her largely successful first novel with a collection of poetry , The Predicament of Or. In 2002 Mootoo had the chance to enlighten and mentor students as a Faculty Writer-in-Residence at the University of Alberta
.
Mootoo's second full length novel, He Drown She in the Sea published in 2005, also earned effervescent acclamation making the long list for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
in 2007.
Mootoo's latest novel, Valmiki's Daughter, depicts a father and daughter who struggle to come to terms with their own sexual obscurities. Published in 2009, Valmiki's Daughter was long-listed for 2009's Scotiabank Giller Prize
.
Today, Mootoo resides in Toronto
where she attends the University of Guelph
, diligently working on earning her Master's Degree in English and Theatre Studies, and is gradually writing her fourth full length novel.
When asked by Andrew Vowles
in an interview for the University of Guelph
what her goal was, Mootoo replied It would be to create and leave behind a body of work that is not self-indulgent but that tries to present a vision of things as they might be.
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, where she initially began to explore the artistic and literary world. She began writing and creating visual that drew on her ideas regarding sexual relations between members of the same sex. As a victim of sexual abuse, Mootoo found comfort and release in visual art. She was able to use images to express her pent up emotions which she had trouble expressing regarding the abuse she had suffered through as a child.
At the age of nineteen Mootoo relocated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where earned a Fine Arts Degree at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in 1980. As a multimedia visual artist in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
she created paintings, photographs and videos that dealt with issues of gender, sexuality, identity, self-loathing and sexual abuse. All of which resonated in Mootoo's experiences as an adolescent in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
and an adult in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Exhibitions of Mootoo's multimedia visual artistry have traveled and been acclaimed internationally.
Mootoo’s first literary publication, 1993’s Out on Main Street is a collection of short stories that depicted experiences of Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
women of Indian heritage. Every story explored the common theme of overcoming child abuse, which is heavily evident in everything she does.
Her first full length novel, Cereus Blooms at Night, was published in 1996 and earned ebullient reviews and acclamations including holding positions as a Giller Prize finalist in 1997, earning the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize
Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize
The Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, established in 1985 as one of the BC Book Prizes, is awarded annually to the best work of fiction by a resident of British Columbia, Canada....
, as well as being nominated for the Chapters Books in Canada First Novel Award, and was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
. Set on an imaginary island in paradise, narrated by a male nurse and caretaker whom has come to terms with his homosexuality, the novel further explores the issues of adolescent sexual abuse and romance that confronts the boundaries of heterosexuality and homosexuality.
In 2001, Mootoo followed up her largely successful first novel with a collection of poetry , The Predicament of Or. In 2002 Mootoo had the chance to enlighten and mentor students as a Faculty Writer-in-Residence at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
.
Mootoo's second full length novel, He Drown She in the Sea published in 2005, also earned effervescent acclamation making the long list for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is an international literary award for a work of fiction, jointly sponsored by the city of Dublin, Ireland and the company IMPAC. At €100,000 it is one of the richest literary prizes in the world...
in 2007.
Mootoo's latest novel, Valmiki's Daughter, depicts a father and daughter who struggle to come to terms with their own sexual obscurities. Published in 2009, Valmiki's Daughter was long-listed for 2009's Scotiabank Giller Prize
Scotiabank Giller Prize
The Scotiabank Giller Prize, or Giller Prize, is a literary award given to a Canadian author of a novel or short story collection published in English the previous year, after an annual juried competition between publishers who submit entries...
.
Today, Mootoo resides in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
where she attends the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
, diligently working on earning her Master's Degree in English and Theatre Studies, and is gradually writing her fourth full length novel.
When asked by Andrew Vowles
Andrew Vowles
Andrew Lee Isaac Vowles , also known as Mushroom, is a founding member of British trip-hop collective Massive Attack.-Early years:Vowles grew up in Bath, attending Newbridge Junior School...
in an interview for the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
what her goal was, Mootoo replied It would be to create and leave behind a body of work that is not self-indulgent but that tries to present a vision of things as they might be.