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February 1998 "The painting of the images in a less than straightforward manner creates distance compelling the viewer to interpret them, letting their imagination and their experiences flow. My purpose is to draw the viewer's interest in order to establish a dialogue with my work." For Beatriz Mejia-Krumbein's first exhibition in Canada, the artist has continued to elaborate on a body of work that deals with violence, both physical and mental, and the theme of women's growing and ever-changing roles, their strength and the importance of both children and literacy. A Colombian artist now living in California, Mejia-Krumbein has broken ground both artistically and personally in her struggle to become an artist and to break out of the mold into which she was supposed to fit her life. These works in black and white are highly expressionistic. Mejia-Krumbein has used stark monotones to heighten the sense of shadow, of depth, of drama, of power, of potential menace. But that use also alludes to the supposedly simple assumptions being challenged in these works: that women are only suited to living out "traditional" societal roles, that political injustice is actually just and exercised for the benefit of the moral majority, that children should be seen and not heard, that power is only real if it is of the physical kind. Working with impoverished materials - rag, paper, burlap - Mejia-Krumbein emphasizes the universality of art and of the issues she deals with. They are not restricted to those without homes or to those who are privileged. Rather, her message is that each of us must be responsible for the democratic and ethical state of our societies. As a call to action, an elegy to those who have less power than we, and a visual tribute to the ongoing struggles of our lives, Beatriz Mejia-Krumbein's art is beautiful, powerful and resonant. Gallery hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 - 5:00 For information, telephone (416) 920 3820 |