The intersection of European settler (Christian) religion and traditional Indigenous culture(s) are evident. In Death of the Female, Monkman juxtaposes modern subjects and imagery with traditional ones. His scenes combine realism with surrealism to result in a narrative of authentic contemporary Indigenous culture. Įssentially, Monkman endeavors to overwrite the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada and by doing so gives voice to the underrepresented or misrepresented. It is by “setting off the Christian iconography, West introduces the exotic majesty of the ndigenous warrior”. Some of such images include Picassoesque female subject(s), traditional Indigenous figures, pictographs as well as religious symbolism, particularly Christian. By researching and examining recurring elements within his work, I aim to analyze his inclusion of such visuals to explore his intended narrative for this piece. The iconography included in Monkman’s carefully crafted imagery melds realism with surrealism, and contrasts traditional Indigenous figures with religious symbolism. His work is exhibited in museums across Canada, including the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art located in Toronto, Ontario, as well as the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. This piece follows after Monkman has presented works in a variety of mediums such as performance, film, sculptural installations, paintings, and even children’s book illustrations. Monkman spent much of his youth growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before moving to Toronto, Ontario to further his education. Kent Monkman is a Canadian artist and registered member of the Fish River First Nations band situated in Northern Manitoba. 1) are considered against this focal piece. Other works, such as West’s the Death of General Wolfe (Fig. Similar to West, Monkman includes strong iconography within his paintings to form a powerful narrative that is rich in both culture and critique. As history is an essential aspect to Monkman’s work, I compare Monkman’s work to that of Benjamin West.
2), is a prime example of this synthesis. His painting, The Death of the Female (Fig. KENT MONKMAN IS A CONTRIBUTING ARTIST TO THE COLLECTION OF WORKS GATHERED FOR THE WINNIPEG ART GALLERY SHOW: INSURGENCE/RESURGENCE.īy contributing to modern contemporary art history, Kent Monkman seamlessly merges the colonial, traditional, and urban histories of Indigenous peoples in Canada. MARCO IS STUDYING FINE ARTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA. THE FOLLOWING IS WRITTEN BY GUEST BLOGGER AND FORMER ARTSPACE TEAM MEMBER, MARCO MULLER. Death of the Female: Interpretations of Iconography through the Lens of a Winnipeg Cree
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