Opening Celebration for Interference Patterns a new exhibition by Nicholas Galanin at SITE Santa Fe

Opening Celebration: Friday, October 6, 2023, 5:00 - 9:00 PM

SITE SANTA FE presents Interference Patterns, a solo exhibition of new and recent work by multidisciplinary Tlingit and Unangax̂ artist Nicholas Galanin. This solo exhibition celebrating Indigenous knowledge and challenging mainstream narratives

of colonization and occupationon will be on view October 6, 2023 - February 5, 2024.

Rooted in his relationship to Land as well as Indigenous visual language and thought,

Galanin merges conceptual and material practices in his expansive creative approach,

employing numerous materials and processes to reflect on and speak to contemporary

issues from an Indigenous perspective.

Interference Patterns presents over twenty-five new and existing works (2006-2023),

including video installation, sculpture, performance art, works on paper, and installation,

celebrating Indigenous knowledge and reenvisioning legacies and consequences of

colonization and occupation. Boldly and intentionally disrupting colonial narratives and

fiction by centering Indigenous perspectives, Galanin’s varied works touch on the

intersection of Land and Water, cultural erasure, forced assimilation, natural and forced

migration, environmental violence, and climate crisis with settler-colonial capitalism.

"This exhibition reflects the ways natural patterns are being interfered with, and intentionally interferes with colonial patterns of oppression.” – Nicholas Galanin

Neon American Anthem (red), 2023, is a participatory performance piece commissioned by SITE SANTA FE that invites visitors to come together and “scream until you can’t

breathe” in response to legislated violence and oppression by the United States on those

inside and outside its borders.

Galanin’s work will expand beyond the gallery spaces to occupy SITE SANTA FE’s public art initiative, the Billboard Project. Located on the western exterior of the building, Galanin will cultivate space for reflection and rouse a sense of urgency for interdependence in diverse experiences and differences.

Interference Patterns is curated by Brandee Caoba.

About the Artist

Examining the complexities of contemporary Indigenous identity, culture, and

representation, Nicholas Galanin works from his experience as a Lingít and Unangax̂artist.

Embedding incisive observation and reflection into his oftentimes provocative work, he

aims to redress the widespread misappropriation of Indigenous visual culture, the impact

of colonialism, as well as collective amnesia. Galanin reclaims narrative and creative

agency while demonstrating contemporary Indigenous art as a continually evolving

practice.

As he describes: “My process of creation is a constant pursuit of freedom and vision for the present and future. I use my work to explore adaptation, resilience, survival, dream,

memory, cultural resurgence, and connection and disconnection to the land.” Galanin

unites both traditional and contemporary practices, creating a synthesis of elements in

order to navigate “the politics of cultural representation.” Speaking through multiple

visual, sonic, and tactile languages, his concepts determine his processes, which include

sculpture, installation, photography, video, performance, and textile-based work. This

contemporary practice builds upon an Indigenous artistic continuum while celebrating the

culture and its people; Galanin contributes urgent criticality and vision through resonant

and layered works.

Nicholas Galanin earned a BFA at London Guildhall University (2003); an MFA at Massey

University, Palmerston North, New Zealand (2007); and apprenticed with master carvers

and jewelers. He currently lives and works with his family in Sitka, Alaska. Galanin

participated in Desert X, Palm Springs (2021); Biennale of Sydney (2020); Whitney Biennial

(2019); Honolulu Biennial (2019), and Venice Biennale (2017). Galanin’s work is in permanent collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Art Institute of Chicago; Detroit Institute of Arts; the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Denver Art Museum; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and Princeton University. He received an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2020) and received a Soros Arts Fellowship (2020).

IMAGE: Nicholas Galanin • Neon American Anthem, 2023 • installed at Seattle Art Museum

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