This week I had the joy of visiting TATE Liverpool, an oldie but a goodie for myself having grown up locally and spent most school trips in its huge galleries.
Though many exhibitions are similar/the same as the last time I visited (Constellations), it was the Liverpool Biennial work that interested me the most. This was on the top floor and was an experience in itself.
As you walk in there is a huge display of gas masks and contorted covers (Kevin Beasley) used as part of a performance piece, and carved trainer soles (Brian Jungen), both bold and dynamic with complete 360 degree interaction. However, for me, Duane Linklater steals the show as his installation caught my eye to the left as soon as I entered. His clothes rails of hanging pelts and skins was haunting and an immediate basis of debate in our group. For him, it’s a show of lost heritage and memories of the indigenous lifestyle due to losing the right to hunt for survival by the British empire. The use of presenting the remains is almost a protest to the audience that despite it being forbidden, such turmoil is still occurring and is now being exploited even further through dark humour. Alongside some of hanging pelts are scarves and material pieces, questioning everybody’s morality of the situation; some find the installation disgusting and immoral, yet will happily wear fur alongside the scarves. The names of each collection of pelts’ hanging rail are dark and twisted (‘Little Ghosts’, ‘Marks Left Behind’, ‘My Brother in Law, My Sister’), bringing about a personal reality and connection to his family and the indigenous mortality.
‘Little Ghosts’, Duane Linklater. Liverpool Biennial, TATE Liverpool.
Annie Pootoogook, a similarly Canadian artist uses coloured pencil and pen to express a day to day diary of her life; the hardships and the personal experiences. It maps her indigenous heritage alongside harmonious or painful moments, for instance, times of joy with her family compared to domestic violence. This graphic documentation of her life and struggles really hits home when read chronologically.
Another visit to TATE Liverpool will definitely be on the cards soon.
HXLLISON ART HISTORY 