The Last Days of the Vancouver Art Gallery's Beat Nation Exhibit

In less than 2 weeks, the Beat Nation exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery will end.  During yesterday's visit I found a number of excellent pieces showcasing the talents of a new generation.

Beat Nation includes artists who use pop culture, graffiti, fashion and other signifiers of urban life in combination with more traditional forms of Aboriginal identity.  This exhibition reflects artists who "juxtapose urban youth culture with Aboriginal identity in entirely innovative and unexpected ways".

Beat Nation introduces work from a number of artists including Shawn Hunt, Maria Hupfield, Kent Monkman and Rapsure Risin.  If you are visiting the Beat Nation exhibit in its remaining days, do not miss:

Shawn Hunt's Master of Ceremony (2011)

Heiltsuk artist Shawn Hunt draws on Aboriginal imagery to make an abstracted figure of an MC.  The work is painted directly on wood.

In 2011, he was awarded the British Columbia Creative Achievement Award for Aboriginal Art. Follow Shawn Hunt on Twitter at @ShawnHunt.

Maria Hupfield's Jingle Boots (2011)

As you tour the 3rd floor, upon exiting the hall playing three videos, be sure to look to your immediate left. You will see and hear a working example of the Jingle Boots.  You will see these boots on display later in the collection.

Jingle Boots (2011)
by Maria Hupfield

In the same area, take a close look at the silver 'Bear Mask, with Ear to the Ground' (2011).

Kent Monkman's Dance to Miss Chief (2010)

Take the time and put on the headphones to fully enjoy the video by Kent Monkman.  Dance to Miss Chief is a playful critique of the German facination with North American "Indians".  He appears as his alter ego, the stiletto-heel-wearing, Miss Chief Eagle Testicle.  This remix of contemporary and vintage footage celebrates Miss Chief's on-screen romance with leading man Winnetou, the ficticious "Indian" from Karl May's German Western films.  Just try not to dance while listening.

Rapsure Risin's Video of The Lights Go Out



Corey Bulpitt's Graffiti Mural with Haida Figures

Get out of the way George :)

Seen in the background in the picture to the right, is the large-scale graffiti wall painting.  The mural is from Vancouver-based Corey Bulpitt.  Residents of Vancouver may recognize his other street mural found under the Granville Street bridge.


I hope that you make the effort to visit Beat Nation by the Vancouver Art Gallery before it's gone.  You will enjoy.

About the Vancouver Art Gallery:

The Vancouver Art Gallery was originally designed by Francis Rattenbury as the Provincial Courthouse in 1906.  From 1979-1982, the interior of the building was renovated by Arthur Erickson.  It is now the 5th largest gallery in Canada, and holds the largest collection of works by Emily Carr.

The next exhibition to visit is Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters.