Refuge

About the Exhibition

A woman’s hand weaves in and out of the tall grasses growing along a riverbed. The clap of a beaver’s tail thunders upon the water’s surface, the sound reverberating into the distance. Nearby, concentric circles appear as particles of matter disturb the river’s otherwise calm body. The roots of mother trees extend on either side of the stream nurturing the next generation of saplings.

Inspired by the gallery’s location near Toogood Pond and the Rouge River watershed, Refuge dwells upon issues of boundaries, permanence, interconnectivity and exchange. It explores the physical and psychological effects of nature for humans and animals alike, specifically within the context of the urban forest.

Image credits
1–7: Installation views of Refuge, Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2018. Photos: Toni Hafkenscheid.
8: Jessica Karuhanga, being who you are there is no other (film still), 2017, two-channel video installation, 15 minutes. Courtesy of the artist