Intertwined

In a time marked by our increasingly complex relationship to the natural world, Intertwined brings together artists for whom this tension is at the heart of their exploration. Probing themes of identity, environmentalism, displacement and the human body, this exhibition invites us to reflect and reconsider our place within nature and our role in its becoming.

Human connection to nature is a driving force in Adrian Baker’s work. Rooted in ecofeminism, her work stems from the belief that what affects nature will also affect us. Canadian Shield is a visual reflection of our impact on our environment. Similarly, habitat loss, fragility, and impermanence are at the center of Juliana McDonald’s practice. The monoprint series Come Walk With Me, featuring leaves and grasses she collects near her home, highlights nature’s constant evolution, driven and threatened by human action. Tiffany April’s work brings into question the hierarchy between human and non-human beings. Portraying the intelligence of fire, her pieces explore nature’s ability to grow and balance itself in response to human action. Saanya Chopra’s practice explores identity and displacement through the lens of both deconstruction and renewal. As a second generation Canadian, her work questions our relationship to our body and environment in the context of cultural identity. Always inspired by the landscapes of the boreal ecozone, Wendy Feldberg’s work focuses on plants native to both her garden and local environments. She uses pigments from plants and soil applied directly onto natural fibers to create unique monotypes in a process known as Eco-printing. Through layering and composition, Linh VH Nguyen uses organic matter to explore memory, identity, and emotion in relation to the body. Her work repurposes dried weeds and floral debris to question our perception of beauty.

By merging visual storytelling and media-based experimentation, Intertwined explores each artist's connection to the natural world and incites us to reflect on how we both feel connection and distance towards our environment.

Artists: Tiffany April, Siobhan Arnott, Adrian Baker, Saanya Chopra, Pat Durr, Wendy Feldberg, Sylvie Grenier, Michael Harrington, Susan Hodgson, Whitney Lewis-Smith, Juliana McDonald, Judi Miller, Linh VH Nguyen, Patti Normand, Cheryl Pagurek, Pierre Racine, Valerie Ryan, Sharon VanStarkenburg

Exhibition Coordinator: Élie Crighton

Assistance: Kelly Dixon

Installation: Dan Austin and Rob Keefe