Spaces for Reading: Collage of print transfer

Gallery Space

The Ann Beam and Carl Beam: Spaces for Reading Exhibition is showing from Jan 15- April 18 of 2019 at the SFU Gallery on Burnaby Campus.
In addition to showcasing the thought-provoking works of art by Ann Beam and Carl Beam, reading events are also offered at SFU for a more
excellent understanding of the exhibition. Though the two artists share their life and have their art displayed as one exhibition, their topic of focus
is distinctively different. Both interested in the postcolonial representation of indigenous cultures, Ann beam’s captivating perspective on motherhood
subjects the viewers to an emotional realm of understanding, while Carl explores with the narrative of science and space is a different kind of invention.

Walking into the gallery space, a series of same-sized vertical frames are located along the mid-section of all three sides of the wall.
A white and rectangular pyramid-like furniture situates in the middle of the room, with contextual, responsive reading material placed on top.
There is no direct indication of how the pieces should be viewed; instead, the viewers are left to interpret subjects displayed in the works.
That is, after the introduction, each piece is not provided with more additional information other than the titles of some selected works.
Space is largely divided by the white furniture in the middle, with no suggestion of which contextual book to read for any of the art pieces accordingly.

On the upside, this gives the viewer the freedom to explore,
but when I was experiencing it, I felt quite lost and didn’t know where to begin, or which text would be most helpful to read.
After all, there are many texts to choose from, but I do not have the time to go through them all.

Carl’s works mainly interested me in its way of using pencil and print transfer on top of an image collage.
The glossiness is cultivating to the subject. A clear sense of questioning of the relationship between culture
and science is put forward in these collages, for example, the bomb testing newspaper article paired with
an old portrait of a tribe leader in the desert. His work is thought-provoking and gives a new perspective
to look at the development of postcolonial indigenous impacts. It is critical but not shocking.
It is a great way to think from the other side of the story.

Carl Beam

Carl Beam

Carl Beam

Ann presents her subject on a much more intimate and emotional way.
Her clever use of watercolor in combination with print subtly expresses the warm, caring nature of motherhood.
The uplifting color and correlation of the two images in comparison showcases the universal story,
the relationships between mother and daughter in translating the idea of femininity.
Later I noticed the crown that was made not by ink, but by carving the paper and letting more paint seek through it.
I thought that was a fascinating way of creating a negative image, just like how she offers an exciting perspective in all her works displayed in this exhibition.

Ann Beam

Ann Beam

Review By Ashley Song