Leila Sujir and Maria Lantin: "A Chorus of Lungs"
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Centre A: Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art 205-268 Keefer Street (Sun Wah Centre), Vancouver, British Columbia V6A 1X5
"A Chorus of Lungs"
Leila Sujir and Maria Lantin, "A Chorus of Lungs," anaglyph projection still from interactive 3D stereographic projection.
Centre A: Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art is pleased to announce Canadian artists Leila Sujir and Maria Lantin's exhibition, A Chorus of Lungs.
“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.