[BCMA] "Monster" opens soon at the West Vancouver Museum

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Press release
 Monster
 
 
Presented with the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad with the support of
the Audain Foundation
Exhibition runs from February 5 to May 8, 2010
Opening reception: February 4, 7pm - 9pm
 
Artist talks: Howie Tsui: February 6, 1pm - 2:30pm
                  
                  Alexandra Flood: February 6, 3pm - 4:30pm
                     
                  Sandra Meigs: March 20, 1:30pm - 3pm
 
"I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as
deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My
companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This
being you must create."
            Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
 
Artists have depicted monsters in both a literal and figurative manner
to critique the social, cultural and religious worlds of their time by
producing works that address terror, atrocity, war, disease,
discrimination and the abuses of power.
 
Hiding in the periphery, on the boundary between the known and unknown,
the real and unreal, monsters lie in wait to prey on human vulnerability
and fear. Various creatures, acting as portents, appear as key figures
in mythology, legend, oral tradition, literature, popular culture and in
art.
 
Children are taught through fairytales and parables that if sage advice
is ignored a wolf will devour them or a monster will come and cut off
their fingers. To ensure a safe passage through childhood, lessons are
often highlighted with threatening imagery. 
 
By demonizing that which is dangerous, alien, morally or physically
repugnant and by championing "good" over "evil", the beast afflicting us
can be defeated. Alternatively, we build walls behind which to hide,
avert our eyes and avoid the uncomfortable so that our security and
certainty is assured. Or is it?
 
This contemporary art exhibition features innovative works by Canadian
and international artists Shuvinai Ashoona, Shary Boyle, Lutz Braun,
Beau Dick, Marcel Dzama, Alexandra Flood, Sandra Meigs, Nick Sikkuark,
Corin Sworn, Joseph Tisiga, Howie Tsui and Nicola Tyson. 
 
Monster explores the depths of human anxiety to provoke critical thought
on the underlying reasons for monstrous sensibilities in contemporary
art production.
 
 
West Vancouver Museum
680 17th Street
West Vancouver, BC
V7V 3T2
604-925-7295
 
www.westvancouvermuseum.ca <http://www.westvancouvermuseum.ca> 
 
Open Tue-Sat 11 am to 5pm
Closed Sundays, Mondays, and Statutory Holidays
 

 
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