Those often passing Lansdowne and Aberdeen stations probably have noticed that the columns have had their “clothes” changed.
The columns are the city’s ongoing project, No.3 Road Art Columns exhibition, providing opportunities for local artists to showcase their work in public, using a selected theme.
The theme on display now is a hot topic in the city — migration, presented by Vancouver artist Renée Van Halm and Richmond’s emerging artists, Patrick Wong and Russna Kaur.
“I was just online looking at art opportunities in the city and I saw the call for art on the website and I just applied. Within a couple of weeks, I heard back from them. It’s exciting,” said Kaur, a first-year masters student in fine arts at Emily Carr University of Art & Design.
Kaur said she thinks of migration as the movement of people through spaces and places of chaos, not unlike when they wander through large cities, festivals and markets.
“People come from all over the place to experience the same thing, but then walk away with totally different experiences,” said Kaur.
“These places give everyone time to take a break from their regular roles and responsibilities.
“At the end of the day, you can always see pattern and repetition in these areas. Whether it’s the direction of people walking, or the way they are seated. Patterns are all over.
“I feel like our footsteps begin to mimic beats of our surroundings, the sound, the smells, and the signs. Everything starts to have collective energy; everything starts to move together.”
Her abstract art pieces, according to Kaur, capture the energy and feeling of crowds, movement and chaos she experienced, by using different lines and shapes in various bright colours.
“I originally painted the whole painting, then in some areas I added elements cut off from my previous paintings, like a collage, to create different textures,” said Kaur.
For example, one of the added parts is a piece of oddly-shaped fabric from a piece of Indian traditional clothing. Kaur helped design the clothing for her mom’s Indian company a few years ago.
“Every time people look at the picture, they will find something new and different,” added Kaur.
Different artists have different ideas and interpretations towards migration. Van Halm used elements of patterns from around the world, and Wong’s work is inspired by an immigrant’s personal experience.
“Not everyone is going to the art gallery to look at the works there. So to be in a public space, you get to engage people or start conversations amongst people who may not have…taken the time to look at art,” said Kaur.
“But now because it’s part of their daily lives, when they are taking the skytrain, when they are driving by or walking by, or going to Lansdowne mall, all of a sudden they are more aware of art and what art can do.
“And because of the way it’s situated, there is really no right or wrong way to view the piece. You can enter it at different points and still it will make sense.”
The exhibition will be on display from now through July 31 on the No.3 Road Art Columns at Aberdeen and Lansdowne Canada Line Stations.
More work of Kaur can be found on her personal website.
