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Exhibitionists·Video

Artist Casey Koyczan collected driftwood from the Red River to pay tribute to victims of violence

The massive installation 'Gone but not forgotten' shows the interconnectedness of trauma in Indigenous communities.

'Gone but not forgotten' shows the interconnectedness of trauma in Indigenous communities

Mason Mantla · CBC Arts ·
Casey Koyczan harvests materials from nature to create his intricate installations. (CBC Arts)

Over the years, a startling number of people have been found along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers around Winnipeg, in Manitoba. The driftwood and leaves around the rivers are laden with memories of Indigenous men, women and girls.

In the work of artist Casey Koyczan, it's those natural materials that lament and honour the spirit of the people whose lives were taken — and, more largely, the injustices faced by First Nations people every day.

Watch the video:

Insurgence/Resurgence: Casey Koyczan

7 years ago
Duration 3:35
Yellowknife artist Casey Koyczan’s work shows “nature reclaiming architectural space”.

To create Gone but not Forgotten, his massive installation for the Winnipeg Art Gallery's Insurgence/Resurgence exhibition, Koyczan formed the piece from driftwood held together by intricate knots.

The delicate connection between each piece of driftwood in Koyczan's installation symbolizes the interconnectedness of trauma through families and communities. (CBC Arts)

The artist visited Winnipeg and harvested driftwood for the installation along the river. And he hopes that by bringing those materials into the gallery space, he has also brought something belonging to those who lost their lives.

In this video, you'll spend time with Koyczan back at his home in Yellowknife, where he shows you the harvesting process and what it means to him to knot driftwood, spirits and memory together.

Note: Casey Koyczan also composed the music used in this video.

Casey Koyczan creates large scale installations in Yellowknife. (CBC Arts)

This video is a part of a series profiling artists from the Insurgence/Resurgence exhibit in collaboration with CBC Arts and CBC Indigenous. Check out the other videos here.​

Watch CBC Arts: Exhibitionists online or on CBC Television. Tune in Friday nights at 11:30pm (12am NT) and Sundays at 3:30pm (4pm NT).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mason Mantla

Mason Mantla is a Tlicho Dene from Behchoko, Northwest Territories, Canada. As an Indigenous Filmmaker Mason has strived to create dialogue with his films. Using art to talk about social injustices and show the truth that marginalized people in Canada face today. He has used film to help youth speak their story and has tried to be a good role model for the next generation.

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