Canadian Museum of Civilization showcases contemporary Aboriginal art
June 8, 2007 |
Canadian Museum of Civilization
showcases contemporary Aboriginal art
Gatineau, Quebec, June 8, 2007 – A new exhibition of contemporary art by a young generation of native artists opens today at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. In My Lifetime: Contemporary Aboriginal Art features 15 works by eight significant artists: Rebecca Belmore, Hannah Claus, David Garneau, Faye HeavyShield, Neal McLeod, Nadia Myre, Sonia Robertson and Frank Shebageget. Their works focus on the modern aboriginal experience in Canada.
In My Lifetime shows the personal connections between the artists and their ancestral history, along with experiences from their own lives. It accentuates the relevance of present-day experiences and the persistence of Aboriginal cultures. Together, the works provide a dynamic snapshot of Canadian Aboriginal perspectives today.
“The Museum is justly known for its unparallel collection of aboriginal art and historic artifacts, but we are much more than a repository for cultural history,” says Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. “Contemporary exhibitions such as In My Lifetime allow scholars and visitors to examine how diverse cultures are finding expression in the present, exploring the connections between individual artists and collective memory, and seeing how these voices help shape our wider society.”
The contemporary works in the exhibition expand upon the historic themes and traditional ways of life explored in the First Peoples Hall, one of the Museum’s permanent exhibitions. The Museum’s First Peoples Hall adds cultural context to the contemporary art exhibition, and visitors are encouraged to see both exhibitions to gain a better sense of the past and the present.
The exhibition is curated by Lee-Ann Martin, the Museum’s Curator of Contemporary Canadian Aboriginal Art, and was first presented at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec in 2005. By installing the artworks to a new space, the exhibition’s current display provides a fresh experience that is enhanced by new videos prepared by Museum of Civilization staff. The videos give time to the artists to explain their ideas, their approach, and the historical and cultural issues that influence their work.
In My Lifetime: Contemporary Aboriginal Art is on display from June 9, 2007 to March 16, 2008. It was organized by the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, with the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Media Information:
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: 819 776-7167
Media Relations Officer
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: 819 776-7169
Fax: 819 776-7187
2007-06-08 00:00:00.000
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