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It would be an understatement to say that Vancouver Pride 2020 will look much different from past years. Moving online has shifted the context of many events. Thankfully, the hardworking team at Pride Society have pulled together a great lineup of online events. They have also created a much needed Pride Art Walk featuring great local talent on display from July 20 to August 3.
We had a chance to ask Ben Z Cooper about their recent work for the Vancouver Pride Art Walk and the role public art plays in giving people hope.
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Can you tell us a bit about your work “Here/There/Where” and the Pride Art Walk project?
“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern."
― William Blake,
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Recently for many of us, the sanctuary of home has felt something more of a cage. We’ve been locked away from each other for the safety of our collective health during the ongoing pandemic. This physical situation lent for me a reflection (— much time for reflection,) on the spaces between us. The steel walls are cage-like and permeable. The walls offer fortification, but no comfort. This work isn’t an offer to you as a feeling of isolation and hopelessness, but instead a reflection on time spent “sheltering in place”, with a light, psychedelic feel. Home feels different right now, but the light comes in chinks of hope as we hold strong together.
How does your art play a role in celebrating pride this year?
Vancouver Pride Society had to make a tough decision early in the pandemic to take all their programming online and not host any physical events. I had already been talking with them about creating a temporary sculpture for Pride Premiere and Davie Street Party. After some thought, I pitched the idea of doing a series of works featuring local LGBTQ2S+ artists. It seemed like a safe way for people to still celebrate Pride outside. It's important for us to be together (in our bubbles) and to have visible representation in public space. The bold leadership of the LGBTQ2S+ people offers us an opportunity to be honest, investigative and open about our sexuality and identities in a safe space.
This work reflects on life in quarantine, what was your own experience being in quarantine?
Most of my work is centered around creating experience and immersive installations for large gatherings of people. It's been odd being cut off from that source of energy and inspiration. Spending quality time with others is monumentally important. Creating this piece was a way of recapturing that space in the current “normal”.
The colour palette on this piece is quite soft and even joyful while contrasting a deeper meaning. What inspired the colour choices?
Impressionist painters often used pastels to depict scenes from everyday life. It emphasized the fluidity of light as it changed throughout the day, and year. As the light changes throughout the day, different aspects of Here / There / Where are revealed.
How important is public and street art in a time where being inside in crowds is potentially life threatening?
It's monumentally important. I really admire that Vancouver Mural Festival jumped into action early on when all the businesses were being boarded up. It looked bleak downtown and artists made it thrive. It gave people hope. I reminded them that we're all in this together, that this won't last forever, and so many other uplifting messages.
Who are some artists that inspire you?
So many. The first people locally who come to mind are KC Hall (@_kc_hall_art), Atheana Picha (@atheanapicha), Kathy Ager (@kathyager), Corey Bulpitt (@coreybulpitt), Tierney Milne (@tierneymilne), Drew Young (@drewstuff), Brother Jopa (@brotherjopa) and so so so so many more.
Can you tell us about HFOUR Studio? What is it and what other projects are you working on?
All our events have been cancelled. We have a longer term project that will, eventually, be displayed at the Haida Gwaii Museum. It's an interactive night sky showing stories drawn by a couple of Haida artists. Also, we're all working on personal projects at the moment (stay tuned; don't forget to like and subscribe!).
Is there anything else you would like to promote or talk about?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Stay safe everyone! :)
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Here / There / Where is on display in the Vancouver Art Gallery courtyard from July 20 to August 3. You can find more from Ben on Instagram right here.
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