KJIPUKTUK (Halifax) – A couple of weeks ago I first saw the extraordinary Kent Monkman exhibition at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (AGNS). Monkman is a Cree artist who tackles themes of colonialism, violence, indigenous experience, sexuality and more through paintings, installations, performances and videos.
Monkman is probably best known for his large paintings reminiscent of those huge and grandiose pieces done by Romantic North American and European painters. Many of our readers are probably familiar with works like the Scoop, shown below, which if I remember correctly is part of the Halifax exhibition.
When you visit the AGNS exhibit you will see quite a few of his paintings, Monkman is a prolific and highly skilled painter. There is more to his work though, and installations that are part of the show are every bit as remarkable.
Just last week the AGNS acquired Monkman’s large painting, Miss Chief’s Wet Dream, featuring Jesus Christ, Queen Victoria, Marie Antoinette, as well as Miss Chief Testickle, Monkman’s gender-fluid alter ego.
This weekend’s four-minute video, made by CBC Indigenous, is about that wonderful painting and its acquisition by the AGNS. You can see the entire painting reproduced on the AGNS website, click on the painting and you can zoom in to your heart’s delight. Prepare to be amazed.
If your curiosity is piqued you should also visit Ken Monkman’s excellent website.
I am planning to go back and see the show at least once more before it ends on December 16. In fact, I may go this Thursday evening (November 8, 5 PM) to attend a collective viewing organized by Halifax Needham MLA Lisa Roberts. It will be fun to see the show with others, and also very importantly, on Thursday evenings access to the AGNS is free!
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Thanks for the posting the video. I just saw the exhibit this afternoon, and found it a startling and wickedly funny take on colonization that didn’t gloss over its ill effects. It was great to see how the painting was installed. I also enjoyed looking at the other picture, The Scoop, which actually wasn’t in the exhibit, although a very similar one with the same theme called the Scream was.