Lantern: 2009, rice paper, silk, metal, wood, ink, charcoal and Alberta wheat as the floor component, 2.4 m x 2.7m (diameter)
Amy Loewan, '92 BFA, '95 MFA, was born in Hong Kong. She emigrated to Canada in 1978 and became a Canadian citizen in 1981. Many of her works illustrate the integration of her Chinese heritage with western postmodernist art practices.
"In the past decade," she says, "I have been focusing my work on the promotion of peace and understanding. This work, Lantern, was created in 2009 as a sequel to my previous installation, A Peace Project, which was created in 2001 to mark the turn of the millennium. A Peace Project was certified as a Cultural Property of Canada in 2010.
"I begin my work by transforming sheets of rice paper into long weaving strips. These strips are then woven to form an integrated whole, a panel. Woven into these large rice paper panels are words in over 35 languages, words which I consider vital in fostering relationships: compassion, kindness, respect, understanding, patience, tolerance, gentleness and forgiveness.
"This installation is intended to serve as a point of departure for viewers to tap into their inner resources. I hope that viewers find here a quiet place to explore their own personal quests for peace, inside their hearts and in the world beyond."
Visit Loewan's website to see more of her work or to view her exhibition schedule.