Ron Benner
dal 19/6/2002 al 31/10/2002
Segnalato da
19/6/2002
Ron Benner
Oakville Galleries, Oakville
In the context of Gairloch Gardens, London, Ontario artist Ron Benner will create a garden installation, Trans/mission: African Vectors. Its shape suggests a Portuguese caravel, a small, light sailing ship used in the 15th and 16th centuries. Benner's work was inspired by 5 years of research, during which he traveled to major geographical landing points of European colonial expansion.
Trans/mission: African Vectors
Curated by Marnie Fleming
May 15th - October 31st, 2002 in Gairloch Gardens
In the context of Gairloch Gardens, London, Ontario artist Ron Benner will
create a garden installation, Trans/mission: African Vectors. Its shape
suggests a Portuguese caravel, a small, light sailing ship used in the 15th
and 16th centuries. Benner's work was inspired by 5 years of research,
during which he traveled to major geographical landing points of European
colonial expansion. The initial vector of this research was the path of
ubiquitous discoverer' Columbus, but of far greater significance were the
Portuguese explorers, such as Cabral, who sailed from Portugal to India via
Brazil and Africa in 1500 A.D. Following the discoverers' trails, Benner
examined the adoption and ³naturalization' of imported plant and animal
species, and the subsequent transformation of the host environments, both
biologically and culturally, with respect to the remnants of colonial
enterprises.
Compelling and provocative, Benner's examinations of colonialism,
representational practices, and industrialization are difficult to forget.
Benner says ³I make art to change people's minds. My work is about ways of
thinking about the world ÂÂ about European and North American ways of
thinking in particular, but not exclusively ÂÂ ways of thinking that
converge and impinge upon other people's ways, and cause damage. I'm
concerned with how cultures think and behave.'
Trans/mission: African Vectors will incorporate black and white photographic
panels from such countries as Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. These
photos, combined with plantings, will produce a garden that tells the story
of language, cultural dominations, trade routes and the agricultural
interests of indigenous cultures. Viewers will be enticed to make multiple
visits to this garden installation as it transforms over the spring, summer
and fall seasons.
Oakville Galleries is producing a booklet with an essay by Scott McFarlane.
Reception: Thursday, June 20th, 8:30 p.m. in Gairloch Gardens
Artist Talk : Ron Benner
Artist Ron Benner will talk about his work on Sunday, September 29th at 2:30
p.m. in Gairloch Gardens.
Oakville Galleries in Gairloch Gardens is located at 1306 Lakeshore Road
East, 2 km east of downtown Oakville. The gallery is open 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.,
Tuesday to Sunday. Oakville Galleries at Centennial Square is located at 120
Navy Street in downtown Oakville. The gallery is open 12:00 to 9:00 p.m.,
Tuesday to Thursday; 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., Friday; 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
Saturday; and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday. Admission to the Galleries is free.
For further information please call 905.844.4402 or visitthe website.
Oakville Galleries
Gairloch Gardens at 1306 Lakeshore Road
East
Oakville