Anyone finding themselves
near Ottawa Canada between now and 5 April 2020 may want to arrange a
special trip to the National
Gallery of Canada to experience "Àbadakone
| Continuous Fire", a very special exhibit of international
Indigenous art with a wide array of amazing works from around the
world.
Of particular relevance to Second Life is
"Teiakwanahstahsontéhrha’ / We Extend the Rafters"
by Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk) artist Skawennati.
Central to the work is a
machinima, "The Peacemaker Returns", constructed and recorded in
Second Life. The entire work also includes wampum belts (deer hide,
sinew, plastic beads), LED lights, and an aluminum structure.
An earlier
(2017) exhibition of the work explains the title of the piece:
"The bilingual title of the exhibition—in Kanien’kéha
(Mohawk) and in English—refers to the action of 'extending the
rafters' of a longhouse.
These traditional Indigenous structures
would be lengthened to make room for new generations or even other
families."
As shown, the "rafters" of the aluminium
structure extend into the futuristic machinima itself, which also
includes virtual wampum belts echoing the real beaded belts in the
museum exhibit space.
The artist outlines the
significance of the work and details the Second Life effort involved
in its development in a fascinating
background video.
Reporter+Image Qie Niangao
191202
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