Richmond BC, Canada #richmondartgallerybc
In a world rife with injustice, pain, and uncertainty, this compelling group of artists engage with dimensions of spirituality, ceremony, and ritual to find greater meaning, rebuild ties with community, bolster a sense of self, or regain a sense of optimism. Transforming the Gallery with new or recent work, the artists of It begins with knowing and not knowing respectively present photographs, cyanotypes, sculptures, videos, ceramics, paintings, and performance.
Rebecca Bair traces a language of care in a series of cyanotypes holding traces of the shea butter and castor oil she uses in her weekly hair ablutions. Xinwei Che invites visitors to slow down and consider deep time. Patrick Cruz paints alternate realities based on his experiences with past-life regression techniques. Zoë Kreye constructs ethereal immersive installations with textiles painted using her entire body. Ogheneofegor Obuwoma’s striking film delves into the trauma of her experiences at Catholic boarding school. Michelle Sound finds joy in the utilization of material practices like beadwork and drum making in the face of ongoing impacts of colonial violence on family members and Indigenous communities. Ximena Velázquez nurtures ties to her mother country Mexico through the cooking of her grandmother’s recipes.
