Thirteenth International Conference on The Arts in Society

Abstract

“If I Had a Hammer” is an art installation focused on four key events in Canadian history: the abolishment of the feudal system, the abolishment of the Chinese head tax, the establishment of the Canadian Bill of Rights, and the beginning of the reconciliation process with Canada’s indigenous communities. Installation is used to explore different forms of diasporic tangents in Canadian multiculturalism intersected with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 “calls to action.” The inspiration is sourced in the significant role performed by women in the assemblage to support youth. While trauma and social memories in various Canadian ethnicities continue to be saturated by Middle East and USA politics, the necessary timing and mobility by the “calls to action” is an ideal channel to uplift Canadian moving inspiration. The universal metaphor of a horse contains open dimensions of meaning embodying a return to nature and an agent to conquer the second largest nation on earth. I hope the combination of momenta activating all regions and Canadian communities and the 150th anniversary of Canada may give rise to new discussion and action as an advanced upturn.