What does it mean to be an artist in Alberta, famous for its spectacular Rocky Mountains and infamous for its controversial oil sands? Rather than producing the showy artworks usually associated with the vagaries of a boom economy, the 42 artists selected for this second biennial exhibition do just the opposite - exploring psychology, natural forces, detritus and austerity. Psychology is a dominant topic aligning the work of numerous explorations in both creative methodology and the effect on a viewer, ranging from depiction's of anxiety to futility, heartbreak and devotion to an other. Natural forces reference several of the dramatic natural disasters that occurred over the last few years in Alberta, notably floods, wildfires and drought. Detritus is a theme related to the influences of post-recession art indicative of surviving within a creative climate of wealth and boomtown economic disparity. With a focus on entropic decay and its symbolism, artists are making do with little and finding much in the remains of what is left behind. An aesthetic of austerity emphasizes the beauty and devastation of the post-industrial landscape and a self-depreciating social habitat for artists. This manifests as a unique visual vocabulary employed in both material choices, brute presentation, and applied delivery of artistic experience. The publication's title is drawn from an unused transit platform in downtown Edmonton and serves as a metaphor for the status of contemporary visual culture in Alberta: potential awaiting recognition.

Future Station: 2015 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art

Arts & Photography

Kristy Trinier

History & Criticism

Art Gallery of Alberta

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Books by Kristy Trinier

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kristy Trinier. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Future Station: 2015 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art