Elian Mikkola: TRAPP – the spacious body and its archival frame
Elian Mikkola, TRAPP (detail), mixed media, 2023.
Elian Mikkola: TRAPP
Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina Public Library (Sherwood Village Branch)
November 4, 2023 – January 31, 2024
More information >
Curated by Wendy Peart
Elian Mikkola’s work examines the impact of historic German film actor Ruth Leuwerik upon ideals of Western femininity. Leuwerik starred as Maria Von Trapp in the 1956 film Die Trapp-Familie (The Trapp Family), a precursor to the popular Hollywood version The Sound of Music. Working with remnants of this 35 mm film sourced from the Berlin archives in this time-based light and sound installation, Mikkola dismantles and reconstructs the power of Leuwerik’s mediated identity. Ultimately, Mikkola frees Ruth from her celluloid construction, giving her dimension and boundless possibility. Through this counter-archival act, Mikkola likewise liberates themself as an artist, filmmaker, and individual.
Elian Mikkola (b.1990) is a Finnish queer filmmaker and media artist currently based between Treaty 4 Regina and Tiohtià:ke, also known as Montréal, Canada. Mikkola works closely with both analog and digital images and explores themes such as memory, spatial dependences and queer belonging. They’ve done extensive research in the field of eco-processed film since 2017. Mikkola finds motivation in challenging film traditions that have been dominated by the Western world and cisgender artists and approaches this critique primarily through personal archives, found footage and comedic release.
Artist Talk & Opening Reception, TRAPP – the spacious body and its archival frame
November 4, 2:30 PM
In-person, Sherwood Village Branch
Pre-registration not required.
Join us for the artist talk with Elian Mikkola. Following the artist talk there will be a reception.
About Dunlop Art Gallery at Regina Public Library
Gallery Hours, Sherwood Village Branch (CST)
Sun, 12 – 5 pm
Mon, Thurs, Fri, 9:30 am – 6 pm
Tues, Wed, 9:30 am – 9 pm
Sat, 9:30 am – 5 pm
Sherwood Village location
6121 Rochdale Boulevard
Regina SK S4X 2R1
Central Library location
2311 – 12th Avenue
Regina SK S4P 3Z5
Admission is FREE to all exhibitions.
Galleries are wheelchair accessible.
306-777-6040
dunlop@reginalibrary.ca
reginalibrary.ca/dunlopartgallery
We acknowledge the support of SK Arts, and funding partners SaskCulture and Saskatchewan Lotteries, whose contributions help the arts thrive in this province.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Connect with us on: Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter
