July 16 – September 17, 2022
A distinguishing feature of the Norah Rosamond Hughes Gallery, which is housed in the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, is its twenty-two concrete columns that march across the gallery’s interior. The first time Kai Chan entered this space, he felt the commanding presence of these columns that, like trees, materialize both the density and the in-between spaces of the forest.
This dynamic impression has stayed with him and has integrally informed the work he has created for this gallery installation. As Kai Chan has lived in busy urban centres all of his life, when he thinks of, or encounters, forests, his ongoing impression is one of mystery. Forests invite us into their depth to navigate mazes of trees, assorted foliage, and meandering – often disappearing – paths.
Once we are inside a forest, its all-encompassing canopy encourages us to linger, to take the time to walk about and most likely discover unexpected sights.
These are the sensory elements Kai Chan has tried to instill in his work here and with which he hopes gallery visitors will identify as they experience this art installation.
This exhibit is proudly sponsored by the Ontario Arts Council.
Kai Chan has received numerous grants from Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council and awards including the Jean A. Chalmers National Crafts Award (1998) and the Saidye Bronfman Award for Excellence in the Fine Crafts (2002). His solo exhibition at the Textile Museum of Canada will open in the fall of 2010. “Rainbow Lakes”a solo exhibition originated from the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga, London Museum and Tom Thomson M memorial Art Gallery, Owen Sound, Ontario, touring to Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario; Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta and Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, Alberta and the Art Gallery of Sudbury, Sudbury, Ontario (2001-2003) “Kai Chan: A Spider’s Logic – a 35-Year Retrospective Exhibition” originated by Textile Museum of Canada and Varley Art Gallery of Markham in 2010, toured to Musée d’art de Joliette, Juiette, Québec; Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Cambridge Art Gallery, Cambridge, Ontario and St. Mary University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia (2010-2012).
