Shawn Hunt is a Heiltsuk artist born in Waglisla (Bella Bella), British Columbia. His practice is informed by his Indigenous heritage and the accompanying visual culture and traditions. Hunt develops characters and narratives, bringing them to life through sculpture and painting using traditional Northwest Coast design principles known as formline. Using symbolic representation as a way to access alternative worlds, Hunt’s imagery is ever-changing and shapeshifting, offering a contemporary interpretation of Heiltsuk cosmologies.
Equinox Gallery marks its 50th anniversary in 2022. To celebrate this institutional milestone and offer a glimpse into aspects of gallery life from the past 5 decades, we present50 Years | 50 Stories, an eclectic mix of artworks that trigger significant triumphs and challenges, personal anecdotes, and creative strategies. As one of the anchors of the nation’s commercial art sector with over 400 exhibitions to its credit, we have represented many of Canada’s top talents in tandem with international artworld giants. Through a selection of works by artists who have been featured at the gallery, this exhibition is an opportunity to consider the gallery’s focus on developing artists’ careers in the context of larger and ever-shifting art world narratives.
While much has changed at the gallery over the past 50 years, our long-term relationships with artists and collectors (both public and private) remain central to the gallery’s ethos. It is by nurturing such deep-rooted connections that we are able to contribute to the significant role art plays in enriching people’s lives.