About AFH
This audio is from our virtual studio visit with artist Matthew Cardinal in conversation with Lauren Crazybull, and was originally recorded on April 24, 2021 over Zoom. Video episodes are available on the AFH website.
About the artist
Matthew Cardinal is an amiskwaciy (Edmonton, Alberta) based musician, composer, and sound designer, known for his work with Polaris Short List nominee group nêhiyawak. Cardinal’s solo full-length album “Asterisms” was released in October 2020 on Arts & Crafts. Cardinal’s music moves from delicate, minimalist pieces to vast drones and sparkling, modular synthesizer beats. He has been performing music across the country for the last few years in various groups, as well as doing soundtrack work in film and sound for art installations. Matthew also works in photography, primarily using film, capturing dreamy moments in time and space, evoking a similar feel to his music.
About the work
This is an accumulative project I have been working on for a few years now but due to the social nature of it, it has been halted by COVID-19. I am collecting photographs, using an instant camera, of the right arms of various people from all across the country. I am currently at around 50 photos of a planned 200. These are photos of friends, artists, recording engineers, musicians, photographers, writers, business owners. People I respect and admire.
Arms because: I am unsure at this point. To me, it's nice to see arms highlighted. The arms we work with and hold with and love and create with.
The right arm because: it started with a photo of a right arm
200 photos because: 200 sounds like a good number
About the co-host
Lauren Crazybull is an artist living in Edmonton, Alberta. Lauren is Niitsitapi and Dene with connections to Fort McKay First Nation, and a member of Kainai Nation. Lauren’s practice focuses on painted portraiture, experimental mapmaking and immersive installation. Their background includes working with youth, radio programming and illustration. The purpose of the work they have done thus far has been to examine the function of colonialism in portraiture and other histories that aren’t always truthful representations of Indigenous existence. As such, Lauren’s portraits describe Indigenous people as they appear to them. Through their work they celebrate nuanced experiences, and seek a sincere understanding of the many facets of Indigenous life.