14 February – 3 March 2024
Artist Talk: 2 March @ 3pm
The VAC Vault
1800 Store Street
Attack Helicopter is a series of video portraits exploring the joy o
being nonbinary. Reclaiming the transphobic joke “I identify as an
attack helicopter” this project playfully explores the full spectrum
of self expression, putting no limit on who or what you can be or
how that can be expressed.
Mackenzie Robin is a genderfluid artist born and raised on the Coast Salish Sea. Working mostly through the moving image, Mackenzie finds themself drawn to projects which playfully externalize a person’s inner world, be that gender, personal history, or imagination. Mackenzie graduated from Capilano University’s film program in 2018, and is currently continuing their education at Camosun College. This is Mackenzie’s first exhibit with the Victoria Arts Council.
This presentation is a partnership with Camosun College and the Professional Arts Management class lead by John G. Boehme.
About the work:
Ez
Having spent his adult life presenting as a binary trans man, Ez
(he/him) is beginning his journey into exploring other possibilities
for what gender could mean. Originally, he felt that being
nonbinary meant trying to be as neutral and androgynous as
possible- a negation of gender- but he’s recently reframed the
idea to be an expansion of gender. Incorporating his early days
being nurtured by butch lesbian culture, his history as a queer
man, and his recent journey into being a “gender outlaw,” he
found himself beaming at the idea of being a cowboy, which
draws on all three of these experiences, expanding what it means
to show up as Ez.
Song – Queen of the Rodeo, by Orville Peck
Rio
When talking about exploring their gender through art, Rio
(they/them) specifically requested the music of Mozart. For Rio,
making an artistic representation of their gender identity was
easy, because they consider gender itself to be an art-form.
Finding inspiration from sources such as Dali, Picasso, the French
new wave, and the architecture of opera houses, Rio embodies
the joy of being themself by being meticulous with their
playfulness, and always bringing art into everything they do.
Song – The Marriage of Figaro, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sage
When talking to Sage (they/them) about their playful attitude
towards gender expression, they smiled and said, “It’s not that
serious.” Coming from a dance background in ballet, and
possessing a huge amount of pride in their collection of high
heels, Sage embodies their masculinity in the way that any
feminine man would. For some that would seem a contradictory
sentence, but Sage is comfortable containing multitudes. With a
powerful presence, Sage feels kinship with drag queens, self
proclaimed bimbos, twinks, and the colour pink itself.
Song – Feels Right, by Biig Piig
Andie
Andie (they/them) describes their current relationship with their
gender as ‘a seed getting ready to grow.’ This portrait draws from
their experiences as a parent, a person in the midst of their
personal growth journey, and someone with deeply held Christian
beliefs. In their own words “I’m supposed to be like this. Someone
made me this way, and loves me this way on purpose.”
Song – Reste un oiseau, by Anne Paceo
This presentation is a partnership with Camosun College and the
Professional Arts Management class lead by John G. Boehme