Brian Jungen

Allison Sivak is a librarian in the Science and Technology Library,
University of Alberta.

The art of Vancouver-based Brian Jungen has captured international
attention, primarily through his iconic works “Prototypes for New
Understanding” (1998–2005), in which he deconstructed red, white,
and black Air Jordan shoes to be restitched to resemble Northwest Coast
First Nations masks. The Prototypes are at first view so similar to
their models that it takes a much closer look to be able to see the
small Nike swoosh logo and the miniature silhouettes of Michael Jordan.
Jungen’s art is powerful in its ability to create a visual shorthand
that communicates messages about the commodification of Aboriginal art
and globalization that are accessible to viewers. This well-produced
catalogue documents Jungen’s work from 1993 (shortly after he
graduated from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design) to 2005.

Essays by exhibition curator Daina Augaitis (Vancouver Art Gallery),
Cuauhtémoc Medina, Trevor Smith, Ralph Rugoff, and Kitty Scott take
various approaches to Jungen’s work, referencing indigenous
post-contact histories, the artist’s choice and use of materials, and
the social concerns that permeate his work. An interview between Jungen
and Simon Starling allows the readers access to the artist’s responses
to critics’ interpretations of his art.

But taking centre stage are the reproductions of his sculptures and
drawings, and in particular, the Prototypes. Many have been photographed
on a stark white background, showing both the whole works and selected
close views that show his craftsmanship in fine detail. This is a
stunning book.