Big 'Uns

DAYNA DANGER 
Big 'Uns

June 9 until July 22, 2017
Latitude 53 Contemporary Visual Culture, 10242 - 106 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
Opening Reception: June 9, 2017, 7-10pm 

ARTIST STATEMENT: In the current cultural climate, women identified, trans, trans*, and non-binary individuals often lack power over their own sexuality. This occurs through misrepresentation, objectification, and violence against these groups in various types of media, from fashion magazines, to music videos, mainstream porn, and even hunting magazines.

 Sport hunting, which has widely replaced hunting for sustenance, uses a language that is violent and oppressive not only to animals but also to women identified, trans, trans* and non-binary individuals. Linda Kalof, Amy Fitzgerald, and Lori Baralt state that within sport hunting discourse “is the sexualisation of animals, “women,” and weapons, as if the three are interchangeable sexual bodies in narratives of traditional masculinity.” (Animals, Women, and Weapons: Blurred Sexual Boundaries in the Discourse of Sport Hunting, 2004) They also conclude that “Animals’ physical attributes are described using stereotypical feminine characteristics of appearance.”  An example of this is the common term “Big’uns” to refer to an animal’s antlers. Even though antlers come from a male animal, they are fetishized as being female breasts, in particular, “big ones.” This type of language usage plays a key role in disempowering our sexuality.

 Big’Uns is an ongoing photographic portrait series that explores the reclaiming of sexuality and our bodies. These photographs are an act of reclaiming power over our own sexualities. This struggle is physically represented by strapped-on antler racks that protrude from our reproductive areas. The antlers, and the tension that they cause, allude to the many factors that women must contend with in order to have healthy relationships, positive self-image, and, of course, sexual relationships. For us these factors include the first-hand experience and/or the intergenerational effects of residential schooling, sexual abuse, and the unrealistic portrayal of our bodies by the media. By repossessing the antlers in this way, we aim to demonstrate a reclaiming of power for women identified, trans, trans* and non-binary individuals and how we choose to be seen.

PANEL DISCUSSION
JUNE 9, 2017, 7 PM

Dayna Danger's exhibition Big‘Uns explores the reclaiming of the bodies and sexualites of trans, non-binary, and femme-identified individuals. Join us for a free panel discussion on Friday, June 9th for a talk with the Artist, Ociciwan members, and special guests Charis Auger and Dr. Kim TallBear. Reception at 8 pm to follow.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST

Dayna Danger is an emerging Queer, Metis/Saulteaux/Polish artist raised in Winnipeg, MB. Utilizing photography, sculpture, and video, Danger ‘s practice questions the line between empowerment and objectification by claiming space with her human scale work. Danger is currently based in Montreal, QC while obtaining her Graduate degree in Studio Arts from Concordia University. Danger held a Visual Arts Studio Work Study at the Banff Centre and participated in Candice Hopkins and Raven Chacon’s thematic residency, Trading Post. Danger’s first solo exhibition, Big’Uns, was shown at Urban Shaman gallery in Winnipeg MB. Danger currently serves as a board member for the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective (ACC/CCA).

This project was produced with the support of the Edmonton Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and Latitude 53 Contemporary Visual Culture.