OTTAWA.- Until 8 March 2015, the National Gallery of Canada presents Shine a Light: Canadian Biennial 2014. The exhibition highlights a selection of recent acquisitions to the NGC’s Canadian Contemporary, Indigenous and Photography holdings. It showcases some of the best and most innovative works being made today in a variety – and often combination of – media, from video and film to drawing and painting, photography to sculpture and installation.

Shine a Light: Canadian Biennial 2014 presents over 80 works by 26 artists from across the country: David Armstrong Six, Shuvinai Ashoona, Nicolas Baier, Edward Burtynsky, Tammi Campbell, Mario Doucette, David Hartt, Isabelle Hayeur, Philippa Jones, Stéphane La Rue, Rita Letendre, An Te Liu, David McMillan, Damian Moppett, Luke Parnell, Vanessa Paschakarnis, Ed Pien, Tim Pitsiulak, Kelly Richardson, Jeremy Shaw, Althea Thauberger, Jutai Toonoo, Howie Tsui and Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun. Shary Boyle’s The Cave Painter, presented at the last Venice Biennale, and Geoffrey Farmer’s monumental installation Leaves of Grass, shown at dOCUMENTA (13), are also featured.

The exhibition reveals the unique ways contemporary Canadian artists are responding to the larger social and political state of the world through their art and how they are choosing interdisciplinary modes of self-expression that transcend traditional categories, materials and genres.

The exhibition’s curators – Josée Drouin-Brisebois, Greg Hill, Andrea Kunard, Jonathan Shaughnessy and Rhiannon Vogl – explain: “Artists can be seen as modern-day philosophers and visionaries who shine light on events, places and people that have been obscured, forgotten or marginalized by history and societies … Often looking to past events, literature, films, places, cultural movements and traditions, all of the artists in Shine a Light are very much ingrained in issues of the present day. Their works encourage us to reconsider time and the writing of history, our relationship to the natural world, the powerful role of images in how information is communicated, and how we perceive and interpret accepted facts.”

“This is an exciting time for Canadian art. Not only is the diversity of practices and subject matter extreme, but artistic excellence is not in short supply either on our shores. Congratulations are due to our curators for having identified and secured the exceptional works in this exhibition, all of which are now a permanent part of the national collection’’, said NGC Director and CEO, Marc Mayer.

“We are delighted to continue our support of the National Gallery of Canada’s Biennial exhibition, especially as it features two well-known artists that RBC was privileged to support early in their careers – Geoffrey Farmer and Shary Boyle,” stated Shari Austin, Vice-President, Corporate Citizenship, RBC and Executive Director, RBC Foundation. “This exhibit expertly takes the pulse of contemporary art in Canada as it becomes part of our national art history, and the works in it will no doubt inspire and challenge visitors over the coming months.”