Reflecting Pool: Chantal New

Swimming pools are a space in history that have highlighted racial discrimination and social disadvantage. They have remained a luxury for the white and wealthy and have long been a symbol of the American dream, suburban haven, and a marker of status. In a way, they reflect the entirety of our social systems. Only those who fit a specific social group are able to create lives centred around pleasure and excess. Today we see how race, class, sexuality, ability, and gender limit people in their access to resources. Systemic racism and discriminatory underfunding have prevented marginalized groups from owning spaces of rest and leisure, such as waterfront land or pools. Proximity to water reveals privilege. In this work, I reflect on my own life that has been shaped by a closeness to bodies of water, man-made and natural. The swimming pool represents this notion and how the nuances of identity determine how easily one accesses resources. Chantal New is a multimedia artist predominantly working in drawing and installation. Her work explores the significance of memory and the intersections between cultural and environmental geographies. She currently lives and works on the unceded lands of the Lekwungen, Songhees, and W̱ SÁNEĆ nations, in Victoria, BC. - Covid - 19 Guidelines · Only one visitor or household allowed in the gallery at a time. Physical distancing in eff... read more...