Colin Arthurs, a fifth-year AMPD student, presented his recent exhibition, (Un)comfortably Numb, at the Gales Gallery last month. This work questions and explores the expectations that arise from family lineages and traditions, specifically through the lens of colonialism and colonial thought.
As a high school student, Arthurs began to develop a nerve condition where he lost feeling in his extremities. Through this lens, his work explores the ways in which masculinity and disability intersect.
“Much of the work is rooted in historical subject matter and inspiration — I often recreate historic Canadian paintings in a contemporary light; they become a re-codified exploration of their historical values [and] a critical commentary on contemporary Canadian culture,” explains Arthurs.
While Arthurs reflects that the journey to being an artist isn’t easy, it can be very rewarding. “So many artists — especially early in their careers — never display or publicize their work. Art can be an extremely personal endeavour, though fundamentally, we create so others can view it and spread our message.
“I found (Un)comfortably Numb to be very rewarding in this respect. It allowed me to display a large body of work in the public sphere and see how students and those outside the university art community experience and interact with my work,” says Arthurs.
That being said, Arthurs reflects that his art doesn’t come without its challenges, and that he has always questioned the relevance of his work: “Specifically, how my work and subject matter can remain relevant in a contemporary context when it often deals with historical subject matter and is rendered in an antiquated style. It is an issue I have dealt with throughout my undergraduate degree, and will no doubt continue to be something I question going forward.”
Arthur adds that he sees art-making and disability working together in tandem. He started his artistic journey through music, but as his nerve condition advanced, he redirected his artistry into the visual arts stream.
“I started it as a way to regain fine motor skills and coordination. It just so happened to be something that I found I really enjoyed. With the help of a very supportive high school teacher, I was able to pursue art as a vocation instead of just a hobby. Art-making, for me, therefore, holds a special place — without it, I don’t know where I would be or where I would end up.
“Art gave me a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and it is something that still does,” says Arthurs.
