A Chorus of Lungs

A CHORUS OF LUNGS

Leila Sujir and Maria Lantin

November 15 – January 25, 2014
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturdays, 11am-6pm
Opening Reception: Friday, November 15, 2013, 7pm
Essay: Michelle Jacques, Chief Curator Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

Lead Donors: David Cousins and Anndraya Luui

“A Chorus of Lungs” is a 3D interactive sound and video installation that explores the idea of the social body, its voice and breath. The installation appears as a constellation of animated lungs floating in space to the cadence of breathing. The viewer is invited to animate the Chorus of Lungs by pushing their hands together, or pulling their hands apart, actions which compress or create a space for the lungs to become a chorus both visually and audibly. The intention is that this installation produces a space of agency for the viewer, re-considering the relationship between art object and viewer, but also exploring tensions and possibilities inherent to the notion of community. The artists state, “We are exploring the tensions between community, chorus, and individual voicing with an attentiveness to our singular and collective being.” The work addresses ideas of the individual and society, and within the consideration of Asian identities, reflects on approaches to individual difference and diversity, social engagement, interaction, shared space and ideas of collectivity.

“A Chorus of Lungs” represents an important work in the development of media technologies, drawing on artistic innovation and institutional and artistic collaboration. At Centre A, the presentation of this work will be accompanied by public programs, including artist talks, and 3D drawing workshops facilitated by the artists.

Leila Sujir is a South Asian-Canadian artist and professor at Concordia University in the Intermedia Cyberarts (IMCA) program of the Studio Arts Department. Sujir’s video works have been shown in exhibitions, including group shows at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in Liverpool, UK as well as galleries and festivals all over the world, and are in collections, including the National Gallery of Canada.

Dr. Maria Lantin is the Director of Research and the S3D Centre at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

An exhibition brochure with an essay by Michelle Jacques, Chief Curator of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, will be available at Centre A.

Press release

PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Artist Talk with Leila Sujir and Maria Lantin

Saturday, November 16: 2pm
at Centre A
Free Admission

PRESS COVERAGE

“Collective Breath: 3D Video Installation Invites Interactive Reflection”, Sonja Grgar, La Source, December 9, 2013

“A Chorus of Lungs Breathes life into Centre A”, Kevin Griffin, Art Seen, The Vancouver Sun blog, November 27, 2013

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