Adrian Stimson at Grunt Gallery

Holding Our Breath by Adrian Stimson, is a large-scale installation based on the artist's first-hand experiences and observations at a military base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The work is informed by conversations Stimson had with soldiers, some of whom were First Nations, and his impression of daily life at the military base situated in the vast Middle Eastern landscape.

"...This exhibition brings together drawings, photographs, video and sculptural installations that explore the ambiguities of war by linking personal history with wider cultural and political issues. Although this work reflects on the complex situation in Afghanistan, Stimson deflects the focus away from the truncated newsreel moments to daily life affirming moments." - excerpt from, "Holding Our Breath: The Work of Adrian Stimson" by Elizabeth Matheson.

The work includes Stimson's own personal perspective on serving in the military as well as his family's history serving in the Canadian military as soldiers and historically as Blackfoot warriors. These experiences, in addition to Stimson's time spent in Kandahar, allow the artist to approach these topics from a perspective that questions the essence of conflict and how this relates to personal, cultural, and military identity.

Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Adrian Stimson is a member of the Siksika (Blackfoot) Nation in southern Alberta. His work includes installation, painting, performance, video, and photography. His performances at the Burning Man Festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, have seen the creation of "Buffalo Boy" as well as the "Shaman Exterminator", who seeks to explore the myths, falsehoods and realities of Shamanic being. He lives and works in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

http://adrianstimson.com


Opening: Friday, January 4, 2013, 7-10 pm 
Exhibition Dates: Fri., 4 January 2013 - Sat., 16 February 2013


Grunt Gallery
#116 – 350 East 2nd Ave
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V5T 4R8
www.grunt.ca