A trip to Wells last summer changed Garrett Andrew Chong’s view of B.C.’s forests.
The Vancouver resident was in the Cariboo region on a Toni Onley Artists’ Project residency when he started to see the woods and its spaces from a new perspective.
It was a different journey from what he had followed before.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the photographer travelled abroad and around the Lower Mainland to create collections that touched on deeper meanings about the world, in sacred places.
But, up north, he witnessed how people can also hurt the environment by causing forest fires and cutting trees like around Kruger Lake, south of Prince George.
“It’s just levelled,” he told the Tri-City News. “What’s that doing to our world?”
Through his research, the graduate of Coquitlam’s Centennial Secondary and Emily Carr University of Art + Design formed an art project called Eroded Origins: Liminal Illusions Amidst Climate Transformations.
It opens tonight, Sept. 6, at Place des Arts in Coquitlam.
Chong said it’s the first time he’s displayed all the series’ pieces at once; however, Chong has exhibited some artworks publicly to call attention to the “urgent need for a critical reassessment of government environmental and climate action policies.”
At last year’s Eastside Culture Crawl, he asked his audience to answer two questions: “If the forest could communicate, what would it say? Speak for me!” and their age.
The questions aimed to get people thinking about how we treat our planet, he said.
“The responses have been very moving,” he said. “People want to talk about this. I don’t want to be an alarmist, but we must acknowledge that we’ve done wrong.”
Chong said the forestry wipe-outs aren’t unique to B.C.: He’s also seen the ecological devastation around Fort McMurray in Alberta and the vegetation rebirth around them.
He plans to expand his photo and video project — with viewers’ messages embedded in the artwork — and tour the series across Canada to spark more conversation.
Garrett Andrew Chong will be at the opening reception for Eroded Origins tonight at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) at 7 p.m. Also opening are exhibitions by Molly Gray (Avifauna, printmaking and watercolours) and Nancy Whiteside (Tetrechromatic Visions, acrylic paintings). The shows will be online starting Sept. 13.
Speak for me! responses
- “I have been befallen for the purpose of another’s gain” (age 14)
- “There is no light without dark. Find light in the most unlikely places” (age 11)
- “I have a hole in my centre for the birds and squirrels” (age 74
- “The crystal of my being is still here. Although I’m cut I exist and you will see me again” (age 64)
- “Beauty is all around you. Donn’t just pass by me. Look closer and see what’s happening. I’m more vivid than anything you will see” (age 23)
- “Here is a gift. Please don’t just take it from me” (age 25)
- “Help!!!” (age 50)
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