art environment life everything
Durham Art Gallery (2023)
Elyse Portal, Emilio Portal, Tara Windatt, Clayton Windatt
Conceptual or real independence and individualism only exists due to our biological interconnectedness that developed over millions of years. Art is a uniquely human process that exists in our daily lives, but we should not lose sight that we are only uniquely human because of our evolutionary, ecological entanglement here on Earth. Art exists because that’s what the Earth wanted.
Will we survive? Will art survive? Can we exist in a more respectful and balanced manner with all living entities? Perhaps, it is our small, simple and humble intentions, choices and focus that will profoundly inspire and support, or dramatically impact future generations.
how far back is home
How Far Back is Home, a body of work featured in this exhibition, is named after Sandra Semchuk’s retrospective (1998), and considers relationships to identity, morality and land, reaching back to Ukraine. This series involves the documentation of cultural materials gathered by an aunt in Ukraine, placed at the base of Castle Mountain (near Banff), as an offering of care, in recognition of the Ukrainians interned there in WWI. Along with acknowledging the erasure that took place there, this action also recognizes the cultural erasure being attempted by the war on Ukraine. Prints from this project raised funds for special needs children in Ukraine.
Zaagiing-Saugeen
This film was part of a performance in the context of the exhibition.
I would like to acknowledge funding support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario.
