(five of the seven stone books disappeared when the tree they were wedged into fell victim to the hurricane in 1999. TICKON still has two of the books in storage and hopes to be able to re-establish the work with more "books").
If Canadian Edward Poitra's work had still been visible in TICKON, the audience would hardly have imagined that his carved granite books were created back in 1995. Because the book titles would seem all too current: Virus, Immunity, Race, Humanity... as well as Nature, Time, Evolution. All subjects which are to that extent on the global agenda.
Poitras, with his origins of part French, part Native American, is very interested in Native American spirituality and culture - not least the Native American rituals, which, according to him, most effectively provide access to an understanding of life.
A recurring motif in his art is i.a. the myth of the shaman Black Elk who foresaw the massacre at Wounded Knee. Here, 25 years before the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, Poitras himself was able to both foresee the virus disaster and to point to solutions such as humanity, immunity, nature and evolution.
Artist: Edward Poitras
Year: 1995
Edward Poitras was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1951. He has studied and taught Native American art and culture at the University of Regina. Before he was chosen to represent Canada at the international Venice Biennale in 1995, he had only exhibited in his home country, but now he is known throughout the world.