Jay Shah
DevOps\Aerospace Engineer & Journalist
The Magic of Contemporary Art!
Hey there, art lovers and beer enthusiasts! Granville Island Brewing is turning 40!, and they’re throwing the biggest, baddest celebration with 40 free events. How cool is that? I had the pleasure of attending one of these awesome events – A magical tour of Contemporary Art Gallery‘s unique and magical exhibitions. Come join me as I take you through my fun and art-filled evening, spotlighting the key exhibitions and the super engaging tour led by :
“CAG operates on values of openness, responsiveness, connectivity, engagement, and equity. It’s like a cocktail of creativity and community spirit.”
Matthew Hyland, Executive Director of the Contemporary Art Gallery (CAG).
Event Details
- Event Name: Contemporary Art Gallery – Guided Tour
- Date: Tuesday, June 18th, 2024
- Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
- Location: 555 Nelson Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 6R5
This place isn’t just any art gallery; it’s a vibrant hub of
creativity,
community, and
cutting-edge
contemporary art
-Jay Shah
This isn’t just paint on canvas; it’s a mind-bending, perspective-shifting experience. The Contemporary Art Gallery (CAG) in Vancouver is all about this vibe. They’re on a mission to push boundaries, challenge norms, and make you see the world differently.
Alrighty folks, let’s take a quick detour and dive into the story behind this magical venue.
Rochelle Goldberg
Exhibition Overview
Rochelle Goldberg, a Vancouver-born, Berlin-based artist, loves to blur the lines between what’s alive and what’s not, between self and other, between growth and decay. Her exhibit does just that, with materials ranging from crude oil, bread, celery silver, bronze, to glitter and lights.
Her work often combines these wild materials to show the cycle of making and unmaking.
“Goldberg’s sculptures exist in a liminal space, constantly shifting between states. It’s like a never-ending dance of creation and destruction.”
The images and forms feel fragmented, suspended, and always changing, hinting at the endless cycles of creation and destruction – both material and mythical. They also touch on the deep-rooted ideas that have shaped Western views on the body, self, and environment for ages. It’s a fascinating blend of old and new, showing how these stories and symbols still matter today.
“Sun Moon Stars”
In “Sun Moon Stars,” Goldberg explores the story of Mary of Egypt, a fifth-century saint she’s really into.
Mary was known as a repentant sinner who ditched the material world for a life of scarcity in the desert. But here, Goldberg mixes things up by comparing Mary with a determined 20th-century pinup model. She draws some interesting connections between these two icons and ties them to our present day.
In “Sun Moon Stars,” she reimagines Mary of Egypt alongside a 20th-century pinup model. It’s a mashup of old and new, sacred and profane.
Themes and Artistic Vision
This exhibition explores themes of reproduction, renewal, and transformation, depicting a state of flux where everything is constantly changing and can be swept away by a mere gust of wind. A notable piece features a provisional shelter constructed from real dehydrated bread, symbolizing the endless replicated bread that sustained Mary. Nearby, solid aluminum cans, though empty, evoke the idea of preservation, highlighting the futility of the act.
The display is complemented by various other elements. Painted toy wands suggest a sense of transformation or magical change, while framed lights create an expectation of encountering a mirror, anticipating a reflection that gazes back at the viewer. This connects the moral narrative of Mary of Egypt, a Catholic myth, with the story of Marilyn Monroe, bridging a span of 1600 years.
Zoe Leonard:
Zoe Leonard is a New York-based artist with over four decades of experience. Her work, which includes photography, sculpture, and installations, tackling themes like gender, sexuality, and urban life.
Exhibition Overview
Get ready to step back in time to the fall of 1990, where fashion shows in NYC were all the rage. As we take a peek through her lens, showcasing the raw beauty and unique vibe of those unforgettable fashion moments. I’m talking about stunning photos taken at two major events, with the ones featuring those glamorous chandeliers snapped in the ballroom of The Pierre, a luxury hotel on the Upper East Side.
Her photos dive deep into the fashion world, showing multiple perspectives on the runway. Her images are a powerful commentary on how we see and are seen, touching on desire, power, and performance.
Approximately ten years ago, Glenn Ligon, renowned for his work “Notes on the Margin of the Black Book“—
Glenn Ligon, Notes on the Margin of the Black Book, 1991–93. Offset prints and text, 91 offset prints, framed: 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches (29.2 x 29.2 cm) each; 78 text pages, framed: 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches (13.3 x 18.4 cm) each, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
Gift, The Bohen Foundation, 2001. © Glenn Ligon
which focuses on the objectification of men’s bodies through sexualized images—wrote a letter to Zoe. He proposed showcasing this particular set of works in the UK. This correspondence revealed the first time that Ligon understood that photography could serve as a form of criticism, capable of presenting multiple perspectives simultaneously and that this realization was pivotal for his subsequent work on the book from 1991 to 1993.
“Leonard’s raw and unfiltered gaze offers a glimpse into the often-hidden dynamics of the fashion world, making us rethink our visual culture.”
Themes and Artistic Vision
Diving into Zoe’s world, she was all about exploring themes of gender, class, and race. She was fascinated by the politics and representation in fashion, and guess what? She managed to sneak into these shows to capture the real, unfiltered essence of the runway
She’s not giving us the headshots but focusing on the bodies of the models instead. Initially, she was exploring how women’s bodies were used in the fashion industry. But she found something even more complex at play. Zoe’s work is all about “the act of looking,” and with over 40 years behind the camera, she argues that photography is always subjective.
“The
Headed Model“
Can you believe it? Back then, photographers could get up close and personal with the runway, unlike the strict no-go zones of today.
Zoe’s approach to photographing fashion shows focused on the intricate interactions occurring within the environment. She was particularly interested in the exchange of gazes between models, as illustrated in the portraits below.
This observation led her to understand that these women were not merely instruments; they were professionals executing their roles with agency, self-possession, and an acute awareness of the complex and often challenging situations they navigated. This analogue photography reflects her philosophy that :
“Every look, every eye, even the camera, is a subjective one.”
Reflecting on images taken 35 years ago, it is important to recognize the cultural differences of that era, characterized by a lack of instant access to millions of photographs as we have today. Zoe’s images thus not only document fashion but also contribute to a broader discourse on the interpretive power of photography.
Her earlier work, characterized by a certain weightiness and an absence of sexual desire, included unavoidable upskirt images due to her vantage point. These images exhibit a similar lack of eroticism, showing reinforced crotched undergarments akin to wax anatomical models.
Thirty-five years later, Zoe’s images are displayed unframed and unprotected by plexiglass, emphasizing their raw and unmanipulated nature
Personal Reflections
I was totally captivated by Goldberg’s ability to blend historical references with modern elements. Her sculptures seemed to be alive, constantly changing and challenging my perceptions. As I walked through the exhibition, I felt like I was on a journey through time, where ancient myths seamlessly intertwined with contemporary culture. Each piece invited me to look closer, to consider the layers of meaning and history embedded within. Goldberg’s work is not just about the past; it’s about how the past informs the present and the future, making me reflect on the continuous cycles of transformation that shape our world.
Leonard’s exhibition struck a chord with me. Her ability to capture the raw essence of fashion shows and the underlying dynamics was both eye-opening and thought-provoking. The photographs, taken from angles that revealed more than just the glamour of the runway, offered a glimpse into the lives and emotions of the models. It was fascinating to see how Leonard highlighted the interactions and tensions backstage, the fleeting moments of connection, and the quiet intensity of the preparations. Her work made me rethink the fashion industry, not just as a spectacle of beauty, but as a complex, multifaceted world where power, art, and human stories intersect.
Final thoughts
As I left the gallery, I felt a deep appreciation for the artists’ ability to challenge and expand my understanding of both historical and contemporary themes. Goldberg’s sculptures and Leonard’s photographs offered a profound exploration of identity, transformation, and the intricate narratives woven through time. These exhibitions were not just visual experiences but intellectual journeys that provoked thought and introspection. If you have the chance to visit, I highly recommend immersing yourself in the captivating worlds these talented artists have created. Until next time, stay curious and keep exploring the art that surrounds you!
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