Bug City: an infestation of interest
WAG show is too ambitious
Reviewed by Maya Oppenheimer
Advertised as a discussion of social, political, and environmental issues, the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s recent exhibit, Bug City, has a big bite to chew. Pinched into the awkward geometry of the third floor WAG space, the exhibition offers a collection of 100 pieces that include watercolour, kinetic sculpture, performance, dioramas, photographs and dozens of other media. They are all inextricably linked by the theme of the bug. Be it viral, insect, computer or social, the concept of bug adopts new meaning and perspective. The WAG has set out on an ambitious route, and, this time, it has set out too strongly.
The exhibit is an infestation in every sense of the word: too much, little control, and action everywhere. It seems as though the curators had an amazing brainstorm of every manner in which they could include the subject of bugs in their exhibit but forgot to edit and streamline their ideas. There is too much diversity in artistic style, integrity and perspective for the space and viewing orientation. Each work is markedly unique, which requires an incredible flexibility from the viewer to consider every composition in its entirety of form and theme.
Similar works should have been grouped together to form cohesive themed areas. Catherine Chalmers’ photographs, for example, depict bugs adopting human characteristics and environments. Similarly, in Maria Fernanda Cardoso’s video installation, “Cardoso Flea Circus,” the artist revives the popular curiosity from the 1930s and 40s, using trained fleas to perform common circus acts.
Then there is the sophisticated beauty of Swiss artist Cornelia Hesse-Honegger’s entomologic watercolours juxtaposed with kitschy bug memorabilia from the 50s. Clearly one of the more meticulous and skilled artists, Hesse-Honegger documents the malformations of insects collected from contaminated industrial sites such as Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
The bugs seem normal at first glance, but they are actually missing legs, discoloured or have deformed limbs. This introduces an interesting theme of environment and the codependency of humans and nature, as insects become barometers for atmospheric change. But this theme is lost as one moves about the room.
Local artist Jennifer Smith’s contribution, to the show are enlarged microscopic images of viral infections on white cloth. The images have been embroidered with beads and form a series of what look like a huddle of Kleenex boxes. Bugs are not only insects, but viral infections too.
Clint Wilson’s four large panels from his 2005 “Logos series” add to the variety of media found in the room. His compositions layer paper, text and geometric images, which look like corporate logos superimposed on the wings of butterflies. The calm elegance of his panels is marred by a sound installation emanating from the next room, which only adds to the general cacophony of everything.
An isolated gem is visiting artist Jennifer Angus’s installation. She gets an entire space to herself — an elevator. This is either a creative endeavour to use all aspects of the gallery space or an admission of the over-capacity viewing rooms.
Angus’s work is beautiful. She uses exotic bugs to describe intricate geometric motifs, which creates a marvelous tension between the initial attraction to design and the natural aversion towards large insects.
There are a few problems with delegating her work to an elevator, and the biggest is accessibility. There are only three floors to traverse, so unless you choose to ride up and down or hold the elevator, you’ll have about five seconds to look around. Second, elevators are small. Elevators full of people are smaller still. How can one appreciate the installation with such an obstructed visual field?
It seems as though the WAG got a little carried away with their excitement. This is not to say there is nothing to admire about what is being done in the gallery. An exhibition about bugs in Winnipeg is fresh and cheeky. There are just too many bees in the hive.
The ideal way to see this exhibit is in small portions at a time. You should have no problem pacing yourself long after bugs disappear from their natural habitat.
Bug City is showing at the Winnipeg Art Gallery until Jan. 8.
