Professor’s Art Exhibition Inspired by the Prairies

This article is over 9 years old.

BRANDON, MB – A public exhibition showcasing new work by Ben Davis is on display until December in the Tommy McLeod Curve Gallery on the second floor of the John E. Robbins Library at Brandon University.

An Artist Talk will be held Thursday, September 24, starting at 4:00 p.m. in the Curve Gallery. Everyone is invited to attend.

"Scorched" by Ben Davis
“Scorched” by Ben Davis

Davis, an English-born visual artist, was first introduced to the prairies in 2008. He was immediately struck by the expanse of the land, and equally impressed by how the seemingly endless horizon contrasted with numerous imposed divisions—physical, social, territorial, cultural—partitions that spoke of ownership, colonization, and difference. These themes drive his current body of work, which Davis describes as “exploring the particularity of a locality in terms of boundaries and land.”

Using photographs, cartographic research, and satellite imagery of a mile-by-mile section of land south of Brandon, Davis has created mixed media, drawn and painted works. His focus on a specific locale has led Davis to produce a succession of pieces derived from one seed location. Their formats allude to the expansive quality of the land but also, through their dimensionality, layering, and repetition, reference physical barriers such as fencing, emphasize ideas of function and commodity, and underscore how the land is framed and drawn through its multiple uses.

Ben Davis is currently living and working in Manitoba. He is an adjunct professor at Brandon University, where he has taught in the Department of Visual and Aboriginal Art since 2008. His new solo exhibition, (re)drawn, is touring province-wide with the Manitoba Arts Network from October 2015 to September 2016.

Brandon University, founded in 1899, promotes excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship; educating students so that they can make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders.

– 30 –

Contact

To receive any BU publication in an alternate format please contact Communications@BrandonU.ca

About BU

Success is built at Brandon University. Our growing, progressive campus welcomes a diverse and inclusive community that combines proud tradition with shared ambition. Through our excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship, we educate students to make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders. Join us at BrandonU.ca.