Curated by Dr. Lisa Baldissera, Stan Douglas: Allegories of the Present celebrates the work of the eminent Canadian artist on the occasion of his representation of Canada at the Venice Biennale. Douglas is a photographer, installation artist and filmmaker whose work reveals complexities that often live beyond, behind or just beneath, the metanarratives of historical accounts.

In this selected group of photographs, this exhibition project follows Douglas’s eye as he examines the various image-based constructions that assist in history’s storytelling conventions. Borrowing widely from narrative structures such as the Hollywood film or classic literary work, his interrogations take us through visual accounts of the city of Vancouver and of the province, and of key cultural sites internationally, to broaden our understanding of how film and photography can be used to trouble the fissures of such storytelling, reconstructed historical memory and archives. This exhibition project concerns itself primarily with architectural and social spaces to produce what Douglas calls, ‘allegories of the present.’ Douglas’ work challenges perception and knowledge, demonstrating how important it is that we notice that things are not always as they seem.

Please join us for an opening reception from 5-7 PM on Thursday, September 8th.

This exhibition is accompanied by a robust online public program series curated by Dr. Karen Tam, titled REMIX History. Including roundtable discussions, panels and film screenings, this series considers the work from artists and filmmakers across Canada and parallels Douglas’s own investigations into the ways in which image systems and historical narratives work to produce critical understandings. Visit griffinartprojects.ca for detailed event listings.

Exhibition Dates: September 9 – December 11, 2022

Stan Douglas: Allegories of the Present is presented on the occasion of Douglas’s presentation at the 59th Venice Biennale where he represents Canada in the Canadian Pavilion. Curated by Reid Shier, Douglas’s Venice project will be presented in Fall 2022 at The Polygon. by Dr. Lisa

Accompanying Stan Douglas: Allegories of the Present at Griffin Art Projects, ReMIX History is a public program series including film screenings, conversations with curators and panels with artists and musicians.

This set of powerful and moving short films that reimagine histories and diasporic futures, marks the end of the ReMIX History public program series. A special Q A with selected directors will follow the screening.

The docufiction, “Welcome to Africville” (1999) directed by Dana Inkster is set in the historical site of Africville on the outskirts of Halifax and captures poignantly the impact on a family of the forced destruction of their community in 1969, under the guise of “urban renewal.” The film speaks of lost community history and lost sexual histories and identities. Nadine Valcin’s “Fire and Fury” (2007) is a fictionalized account of Marie-Joseph Angélique, an enslaved African accused of setting the Great Fire of 1734 that destroyed half of the city of Montreal. “The Crying Conch” (2017), directed by Vincent Toi, centres on a man who is drawn into a rebellion that parallels the 18th-century story of Haitian revolutionary François Mackandal. “Pouvoir” (2021) is a collaboration between filmmaker Paul Tom, Paul-Gérin-Lajoie d’Outremont High School, a group of their recently emigrated young students and the PHI Foundation.

Join Griffin Art Projects’ Indigenous Curatorial Assistant, Emmett Hanly, for a series of guided tours of Griffin’s current exhibition, Stan Douglas: Allegories of the Present.

In this selected group of photographs, this exhibition project follows Douglas’s eye as he examines the various image-based constructions that assist in history’s storytelling conventions. Borrowing widely from narrative structures such as the Hollywood film or classic literary work, his interrogations take us through visual accounts of the city of Vancouver and of the province, and of key cultural sites internationally, to broaden our understanding of how film and photography can be used to trouble the fissures of such storytelling, reconstructed historical memory and archives. This exhibition project concerns itself primarily with architectural and social spaces to produce what Douglas calls, ‘allegories of the present.’ Douglas’ work challenges perception and knowledge, demonstrating how important it is that we notice that things are not always as they seem.

COMBINE Art Fair brings Monica Reyes Gallery, Unit 17, Wil Aballe Arts Projects, and Galerie Hughes Charbonneau together at Griffin Art Projects as a means of collaboration between gallerists, artists, and collectors. These galleries will provide an access point for new art being made on the West Coast while expanding to a national conversation. The event opens December 8 at 6pm and concludes with a virtual panel discussion on December 11.

Vancouver’s newest art fair will be the inspiration for a discussion on the nurturing of arts ecologies. Check back soon for more details!

Join Griffin Art Projects’ Indigenous Curatorial Assistant, Emmett Hanly, for a series of guided tours of Griffin’s current exhibition, Stan Douglas: Allegories of the Present.

In this selected group of photographs, this exhibition project follows Douglas’s eye as he examines the various image-based constructions that assist in history’s storytelling conventions. Borrowing widely from narrative structures such as the Hollywood film or classic literary work, his interrogations take us through visual accounts of the city of Vancouver and of the province, and of key cultural sites internationally, to broaden our understanding of how film and photography can be used to trouble the fissures of such storytelling, reconstructed historical memory and archives. This exhibition project concerns itself primarily with architectural and social spaces to produce what Douglas calls, ‘allegories of the present.’ Douglas’ work challenges perception and knowledge, demonstrating how important it is that we notice that things are not always as they seem.