Above is a studio shot from an MFA exhibition by Sylvia Ziemann that’s on at the MacKenzie Art Gallery until Oct. 27. Despite her student status, Ziemann has already had some pretty significant exhibitions including Home (In)Security at Truck Gallery in Calgary in 2011 and Possible Worlds at the Dunlop’s Sherwood Village Gallery in 2010.
If you click on the above link you’ll see that I reviewed Possible Worlds for Prairie Dog. I also did a brochure essay for the Calgary show. Both of those exhibitions had an apocalyptic/survivalist vibe to them.
As you can probably tell from the above photo, Carnival At the End of the World has an equally unsettling theme. In this instance, the scenario that Ziemann’s imagining is one where mutant humanoids have taken over and are attempting to uphold our old rituals and traditions (like carnivals) — but being mutants, they put their own twist on things.
In building her installations, Ziemann pays close attention to detail. So careful viewing of her work always yields delightful surprises. She also enjoys crafting narratives through small screen video loops visible (and audible) through open doors and windows that link different elements of the exhibition together — enriching the viewing experience even more.
Again, the exhibition runs until Oct. 27.
