Meet the artist: Saturday, Nov 6, 2pm – 4pm
Valerie Durant lives and works on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations in Vancouver, B.C
Invisible Rivers is an installation of photographic, sculptural and video works that reflects upon the climate crisis and our relationship with the natural world.
Her work draws connection between upstream events such as flooding, forest fires and deforestation and the consequences to our oceans and our sea life, considering the fluid and seemingly invisible connections that link the land, the forest and the sea.
Entwined in her identity as a mother and grandmother is a desire to create work which has a minimal impact to future generations through conscious material choices such as recycled paper, ice and found objects. Exploring the lifecycle of natural materials and the impact of inorganic materials such as plastics, observed and collected from the land and sea is an integral part of her process.
Linking the past and future with the present, exploring the concepts of regeneration and continuum, while conveying impermanence and ephemerality is integrated in her practice.
Integral to the exhibition, Silence of the Sea is a compilation of photographic stills, video, sculpture and sound that explores the invisible connections that exist in nature and the impact of humans on the natural world. Observations of the forest and the sea have resulted in photographic and sculptural works and reflecting on our vulnerabilities and our impact on nature. The sea fell silent to catch a breath during the early days of COVID-19 but is the single breath enough to reduce the impact of climate change?
To view Silence of the Sea remotely click the link above and insert the password: SilentSea
Valerie acknowledges the generous support of Canada Council for the Arts.
To watch a video of this exhibition, see our YouTube channel.
Sponsored by:
