As a nation, Canada has been coming to a necessary and long overdue reckoning with its history of violence against entire Indigenous generations. With the ongoing investigation of the country\u2019s former residential schools\u2014institutions that attempted to wipe out Indigenous culture with little regard for those they confined\u2014there is yet another signal flare going off for the necessary acknowledgement of atrocities and meaningful, structural change. And although it\u2019s a small step towards what is needed, the National Gallery of Canada has announced a new vision for the gallery with Indigenous representation at the forefront.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Announced on June 23rd, the National Gallery of Canada put for a statement on their new direction in conjunction with a new logo as well as a brand film that explores the significance of the concept<\/a> that anchors this new endeavour. Anoks\u00e9\u2014an Anishinaabemowin word meaning \u201ceverything is connected\u201d\u2014is the apparent core of the new vision for the gallery moving forward.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAnkos\u00e9\u00a0came to the Gallery during the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d the gallery stated in their announcement, \u201cwhen we were striving to stay connected, with a lot of difficulty, through the visual arts.\u00a0Ankos\u00e9\u00a0reinvigorated the Gallery\u2019s commitment to the communities it exists to serve. Social justice movements spurred by systemic racism have inspired us to commit further to decolonization within our institution, to create a welcoming and accessible environment for everyone, and to advocate for social equity through visual arts.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This movement towards a structural change of identity for the Canadian institution apparently came about in conversation with Indigenous colleagues as well as Algonquin elders, gallery director and CEO Sasha Suda explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Albert Dumont, an Algonquin Elder; courtesy of the National Gallery of Canada.<\/p>\n

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\u201cEveryone is connected to the art, to each other. One of the Gallery\u2019s biggest priorities is expanding our invitation and our welcome to invite more voices and visitors\u2026 We are evolving beyond the hard geometry of the Western lens, to an inclusive circle where we will weave diverse perspectives into our shared story.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The most obvious signifier of the shift in focus is the new logo presented by the gallery. Where there was once the sharp depiction of the gallery\u2019s Great Hall in the red of the Canadian flag, now there is an ever-shifting circle, a veritable kaleidoscope that draws from the concept of Ankos\u00e9. Designed in collaboration with agency AREA\/17, the living logo is inspired by the glass ceiling of the same Great Hall, but brings things in an open, welcoming direction, with its broad and bright palette representing the Northern Lights. It\u2019s a gorgeously innovative approach to visuals for a gallery, and the unique impact it provides is keenly felt in watching the designs cycle through.<\/p>\n

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The Northern Lights inspired palette; courtesy of the National Gallery of Canada.<\/p>\n

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The National Gallery of Canada is an institution of its country\u2014residing in the capital atop unceded land, there is a poignancy to their choice of making such foundational shifts to the longstanding model. Although many Canadian galleries have looked to include more Indigenous works over the years<\/a>, this appears to be the first true altering of vision that has been seen from a major gallery with reparations and progress in mind. \u201cOur brand is more than a logo and a new visual identity,\u201d Suda states. \u201cIt is a line in the sand \u2013 the beginning of a momentous transformation that will reshape the Gallery\u2019s core. The Gallery recognizes the limitless connections that exist beyond the frame, and we invite the world to expect nothing less from us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a nation, Canada has been coming to a necessary and long overdue reckoning with its history of violence against entire Indigenous generations. With the ongoing investigation of the country\u2019s former residential schools\u2014institutions that attempted to wipe out Indigenous culture with little regard for those they confined\u2014there is yet another signal flare going off for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-call-for-artists"],"yoast_head":"\n