islands by Emilio Portal at Open Space May 14 - June 26, 2012
“What would be possible in a world where we all acknowledged the experience, knowledge
and wisdom of the local indigenous people, especially in the area of sustainability?”
Emilio Portal is an indigenous artist with Peruvian and French ancestry.
He asks this important question in islands.
As part of his 11 month residency as Aboriginal Curator at Open Space, Peter Morin invited guest artist Emilio Portal to present a solo exhibition. Emilio’s unfolding performance-based installation featured in this blog-page is called islands. Emilio, a recent MFA grad from UVic, honours local Lekwungen peoples of Vancouver Island. As a guest on the territory, he is gathering images, ideas and stories that relate to contested land issues. Within the dialogue is a invitation to witness the past, negotiate the present and reinvent the future, notes Curator Morin.
May 14. Emilio Portal with flat of cedar
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While building the cedar structure, Emilio
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Emilio photographs local monuments
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Monument showing an 1825 boundary line
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Red pencil inscription of text on cedar board (detail) which cites
a May 16, 1850 letter to Barclay from James Douglas:
On the receipt of that letter I summoned to the conference, the chiefs and influential men of the Songees Tribe, which inhabits and claims the District of Victoria, from Gordon Head to Arro Strait to Point Albert on the Strait of De Fuca as their own particular heritage... Paid the sum of 75 Pounds on April 30, 1850 (6,450 pounds in 2011).
Aboriginal Curator at Open Space, Peter Morin
believes the islands project is a unique opportunity to encounter and experience meaningful relationships. Significant relationships take time to nurture, explains Peter, so Emilio’s one month conversation with and about the land is perfectly paced. As Emilio travels around Victoria, he echoes the traditional movements of indigenous peoples over land and water. The curator is impressed by Emilio’s methodology, which uses cedar in a multi-layered manner. The waving walls suggest wind,” says Peter, “and wind is also a medium of change.”
At this point in Canadian history, as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission addresses the deep wounds of colonialism, there is hope for healing and positive change. Peter concedes that addressing the emotional issues around oppression is difficult. “But in order to understand these histories,” he says, “we must speak about past injustice and study the present day effects.” |
Emilio with newly created islands poster
Galleries like Open Space support artists in their quest to examine difficult issues. Morin cites a famous quote by Louis Riel in 1885: “My people will sleep for 100 years and when they awake, it will be the artists that give them back their spirit.”
Emilio Portal’s artist statement also conveys spiritual process. He says: Art is a personal ceremony of honouring the world and being honoured in return. When making art, i am constantly faced with wordless mystery, not knowing the next step intellectually. It is in this space that i learn something of the world, and the world of me. |
Photo taken through crack in Big House doorway.
This photo was taken through a crack in the locked doorway of the Big House adjacent the Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM). The sight of the cold fire pit, empty place of ritual and anguished looking painted figure saddened the artist. His feelings on the situation are recorded in poetic text beside the photo:
people of tide trapped ancestors forgotten fireless pit waiting to be sung to in darkness wind remembers Emilio’s sentiments on the creative potential of the cosmos are further expressed in his artist statement: This movement throughout time from a period of balance to a period of decay is not a linear story, but is a cyclical one that will return to a balanced state. For this to occur, a shift must happen. This shift is not solely a human shift, but an entire universal shift: a divine revolution. We, as human beings, do not lead the world. |
A native plant sign at the Royal BC Museum
This sign at the Royal BC Museum defines the Native Plant Gardens as A Living Collection. Emilio responds with the message: things - sentient beings that are alive cannot be collected for the profit of a few without repercussions. Emilio explains that plants are beings that give themselves up to assist humans in an holistic way. “Indigenous people around the world continue to have deep relationships with sacred plants,” he says. “They are good medicine for mind, heart and soul.” Responding to the totems on display at the museum, Portal says: "For Indigenous peoples, totems represent the primal power of pure beginning, and carry a potent energy. This energy moves outside of political boundaries and cannot be contained or collected." The artist believes that totems should reside with their original owners. |
Peter Morin at closing ceremonies
After the performance, Aboriginal Curator in Residence Peter Morin thanked the staff and volunteers at Open Space for hosting the transformative islands project. Peter expressed his gratitude to Emilio for fine-tuning our sensitivities to the original inhabitants of this area. The loss of language and culture suffered by Indigenous groups continues to adversely affect local populations, explained the curator.
Creating awareness of current issues is an important precursor to change. Morin and Elder Gerry Ambers led an intensive Circle Ceremony. People gathered to share personal truths and perspectives on being a guest on Coast Salish territories. |
Emilio's secluded drumming space.
Tuesday June 26, 7 PM. Guests at the closing ceremony of islands heard an original, improv drumming performance by Emilio. He used a drum kit and cymbals as well as several homemade percussive instruments: bamboo wind chimes, a recycled tomato sauce can, African djun djun drums and a cajon box drum from Peru. The musician crawled inside a square structure and was not visible to the audience. The sounds became an inner journey of discovery, both mysterious and mesmerizing.
In summary, Emilio creates awareness by focusing on his day to day activities and interactions. His artist’s statement describes this inclusive process: "I believe our purpose is to honour the world, and in doing so, the world honours us. The intention in my art practice is to honour every place that i might go to, every one that i might come into contact with, and the phenomenon and mystery of relationship itself." |
Helen Marzolf inspects structure.
Helen Marzolf, Director of Open Space found the islands installation a unique and ever-changing environment. “I will miss the invigorating smell of cedar,” she says.
The Director is pleased that four groups assembled within Emilio's shape shifting installation: Chris Creighton Kelly and France Trepanier launched their report Understanding Aboriginal Art in Canada Today: A Knowledge and Literature Review; JackPine Press (Saskatoon) launched a new triad of publications and Peter Morin and Elder Gerry Ambers led two Circle Ceremonies. "Emilio's project embraced these get-togethers," says Helen, "and invited me to rethink notions of place." |
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Web Design, Content and Photos: Kate Cino previewed arts events for 18 years at Boulevard magazine. She has a History in Art degree and Public Relations certificate from the University of Victoria. For ten years, she operated an art & framing shop. [email protected] 250 598-4009 |