Above the Flood: Watching for the light…

Exhibit dates: May 1 - July 28, 2026

The Hearth Gallery

With the Bowen Island Arts Council

Exhibition description:

“Above the Flood: Watching for the Light” is a new series of paintings following closely upon the 26 paintings in the previous Daalkaatlii diaries series. The Diaries were an exploration of the flood that swept over Haida territories in Alaska and off the West Coast of British Columbia long before there was even an idea of a Canada. Those paintings are in the permanent collection of the Paris’ Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, in private collections, and also at Gallery Jones in Vancouver.

The exploration of that flood and trauma led me to speculate about unseen forces undulating through our lives. While I have drawn upon some cosmologies of old that seem unique to my own peoples it was also important as an artist to fulfill my obligation to make up stuff. Therefore, the narratives and characters that are revealed in these 6 paintings from the Above the Flood: Watching for the Light series are liberated from the fabricated characteristics proposed to fully describe any ethnic or national identities. 

Here is one artist’s fantastical speculations of the vast paces between electrons and nuclei. 

These seemingly empty spaces are not easily found, but are constantly experienced by all of us. One of the many lens that can puncture our darkened curated sovereignty is at sea when the bright sun slips below the open horizon. Perhaps you have seen it. 

I called upon one colour in particular to help describe that fleeting flash of light.  Maybe my choice works for you and this is the first time that these paintings are public revealed. If you wish to message me, please do so through the website mny.ca or @yahgulanaas on instagram.

Please enjoy.