In our increasingly globalized context, people are more mobile than ever before. Whether we leave home for travel and adventure, job opportunities, a better life, or refuge from turmoil—the places we inhabit, or have inhabited, often leave an indelible mark upon our lives.
Passages: Narratives of Identity + Space—an exhibition of art by TWU’s graduating art students—looks at how spaces and places impact identity. Through various installations and art pieces, the students explore how a change in space affects the way we think of ourselves, or the way our identities shape the way we look at the world—important considerations in our increasingly multicultural, mobile, and hybrid communities. Some works also examine interior places such as memory, dreams, and reflection.
Drawing inspiration from teaching English to refugees in Iraq, artist Amy Reese (Langley, BC) uses five garbage bags of shredded paper to address how the label “refugee” subsumes the individual identity behind the label. The evolution of Chinese calligraphy is highlighted in Marina Cui’s (Taiyuan, China) work, where different calligraphy styles represent members of her family and express both personal identity and historical context. Even the banal and every day can undergo transformation when handled differently, as we see in Lucas Koehn’s (Delta, BC) precise and sculptural work with paper. Through the lens of his art and his Metis heritage, Joel Gajdos (Edmonton, AB) explores the sacred nature of the animal that runs counterpoint to utilitarian perspectives that view them merely as means to an end.
Working with faculty mentors, students organize all aspects of the exhibition, from selecting works to be exhibited, to writing descriptions and text, to designing and promoting the event.
Passages: Narratives of Identity + Space runs now until Saturday, April 29 at the White Rock Museum & Archives, 14970 Marine Drive, White Rock, BC. Check whiterockmuseum.ca for gallery hours. More details at twu.ca/samc. This event is part of the 8th Annual Festival of the Arts, Media + Culture (FAMC).
Passages: Narratives of Identity + Space is made possible through the support of Flying Horse Design Studio.
About Trinity Western University
Trinity Western University is a Christian University of the arts, sciences, and professions, legislated by British Columbia to serve the public. Recognized for quality, TWU is consistently ranked among the top two universities in Canada for Educational Experience by the National Survey of Student Engagement; holds three Canada Research Chairs; wins National Championships in U Sports sports; and emphasizes experiential learning to prepare graduates to make a global impact. TWU offers 43 bachelor’s degrees, 19 graduate degrees, and adult degree-completion programs. A vibrant community committed to educating the whole person, TWU has been developing leaders of character and competence for 50 years.