Manuel Axel Strain
to
Unit 17 2954 West 4 Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V6K 1R4
Manuel Axel Strain, 2022
opening reception: 25 June 5 - 7pm
Manuel Axel Strain is a 2-Spirit artist from the lands and waters of the xmkym (Musqueam), Simpcw and Syilx peoples, based in the sacred region of their q"ic"y"(Katzie) and qa:n"n" (Kwantlen) relatives. Strains mother is Tracey Strain and father is Eric Strain, Traceys parents are Harold Eustache (from Chuchua) and Marie Louis (from nk"maplqs), Erics Parents are Helen Point (from xmky"m) and John Strain (from Ireland). Although they attended Emily Carr University of Art + Design they prioritize Indigenous epistemologies through the embodied knowledge of their mother, father, siblings, cousins, aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandparents and ancestors.
Creating artwork in collaboration with and reference to their relatives, their shared experiences become a source of agency that resonates through their work with performance, land, painting, sculpture, photography, video, sound and installation.
Their artworks often envelop subjects in relation with ancestral and community ties, Indigeneity, labour, resource extraction, gender, Indigenous medicine and life forces. Strain often perceives their work to confront and undermine the imposed realities of colonialism. Proposing a new space beyond its oppressive systems of power. They have contributed work to Richmond Art Gallery, the Vancouver Art Gallery, Surrey Art Gallery, the UBCO Fina gallery and were longlisted for 2022 Sobey Award.
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