The themes of memory, dreams, and the subconscious are recurring in my own work and there are, of course, so many artists whose work revolves around these topics. It’s difficult to just pick a few who I deeply admire and am inspired by. So I go for the two in one approach: an artist couple / collaboration.
“We are invited to wander from room to room, searching through shards of memory, as if trying to reassemble a lost train of thought. The room is a constant trope in their art. It offers shelter from a stormy world. It is a place to withdraw and to convalesce. It is a site of mystery and danger, and in some instances, of death.” Kathleen S. Bartels

I was fortunate to meet Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, two internationally renowned installation and sound artists, a few years back when I took their portrait for the NY Times Magazine. I had heard about their work but never really had a chance to see or experience it. Two years ago I could finally see it on full display as they had a show here at the Vancouver Art Gallery, called Lost in the Memory Palace. With five major installations and related works, this exhibition offered a focused theme of “the room” within this comprehensive overview of their collaborative history.

This is the link to the online publication of the show, it’s a pretty dense website with lots of work and links to explore. Make sure to see the videos of their installation The Killing Machine and Opera For A Small Room.