Tradition, cultural identity and creativity are included on Imaginative, an interesting initiative that joined on October 2010 in Toronto (Canada), the most impressive indigenous contemporary works. These works emphasize for their symbolism which invite us to go over to an unknown world.
Metrópolis has selected the most representative works of this 11th anual imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival.
The first one is an excerpt of “UNRESERVED: The Work of Louie Gong” (USA, 2009), by Tracy Rector (seminole), a documentary that shows us the work of Louie Gong, a young artist who, in March 2009, began transforming the look of classic Vans sneakers with his unique blend of Coast Salish and pop culture artwork. Thanks to that, Gong has got the perfect way to express his feelings about being a person “between two worlds” and show to the world the complex cultural identity that he has.
On their own, the work of Michael Corbiere (métis) it’s a music video for PLEX under the title of “Spare Change” (Canada, 2009). In this video, following the hip hop rhythms, the Change is analyzed. A Change that we are not still aware of and maybe is around each corner. While nobody does anything, our society is tumbling down so, it’s time to change.
“Tashina” (Canada, 2009), by Caroline Monnet (algonquin and french), is close to the young indigenous reality. A girl has to struggle with the real world far from her family and culture. She is faced to a world she doesn’t really know and she is vulnerable. Far from her origins the young began a journey towards her future.
The work of Marcella A. Ernest (navajo/anishnabe), “Blood memory” (USA, 2010), is an intimate portrait. Dream-like images from 8mm home movies create a poetic contemplation on identity and memory. It’s a contemporary vision of indigenous essence. Again, it’s a complex identity between two worlds.
Superfly Filmmaking presents the contradiction between the indigenous origins, ancestral traditions and a culture deeply rooted, in front of contemporary world. Two different realities they belong to and they face every day. . “Two Worlds: Inside Out” (USA, 2010), a reference of contradiction where cultures converge.
“Inuit High Kick” (Canada, 2009), by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (inuk) it’s an elegant test of athleticism and skill dramatically and sensuously portrayed. An ancient sport tradition is developed in a environment where images and symbolism are carefully treated.
In “Ignite” (USA, 2010), Ryan Begay (dine) uses spoken Word and reverberating images of kinetic bodies in a game of stik ball fuse to invoke the raw power of resistance and a call to act.
Closing the program, a music clip directed by Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi for Goshtkeeper (leader Shane Goshtkeeper –métis). “Haunted (Ghostkeeper)” (Canada, 2010), where a boy tries to get the girl of his dreams. And he almost get it crossing different spaces while is followed by weird characters.