West Coast Curated
Discover 6 Artists with Pennylane Shen of Dazed and Confucius
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Say hello to Pennylane Shen. An accomplished artist consultant, curator, and educator who has been a driving force behind the global art consultancy firm, Dazed and Confucius, since 2011. With a commitment to prioritizing strong conceptual foundations and identity building, Dazed and Confucius places paramount importance on the quality of the artwork itself. Pennylane works alongside her business partner, David Ellingsen.
Emphasizing inclusivity, Pennylane keeps an open-mind to a broad spectrum of artistic creations. She asserts that her ability to excel in her role hinges upon recognizing the merit in every individual’s work. Her discernment is not arbitrary; rather, it is guided by a thoughtful consideration of three pillars: context, intention, and technique. To learn more, watch her amazing talk Objectively Speaking, What Makes Good Art?.
Beyond the subjective realm of personal taste, she navigates the intricacies of art evaluation based on certain marks, revealing a methodical and intentional approach to her role, and forming the lens through which she gauges the quality of art.
In dialogue with Pennylane, we asked her to elaborate on six BC-based artists, providing a glimpse into the vast and vibrant artistic scene within and beyond Vancouver.
Susannah Montague
Montague’s art is a collection of shamanistic characters which imbibe the peculiar, scientific and mythical qualities involved in creation. Rollicking, cherubic figures wearing masks and antlers frolic among symbols of decay, in a world that is equal parts shadowy and lighthearted. Her lively sculptures are an amalgam of animal, human and object. Combined, the images evoke a whimsical narrative of folk tales, childhood fantasies, dreams, and nightmares. There is a precarious balance in her work between life and death, creation and destruction, innocence and corruption. (via artist website)
“She uses a medium that’s seen as functional, traditional, and delicate. And it is still all of those things, but Susannah uses it in such an unconventional way. The sculptures that she creates are of another world and it takes truly a different kind of mind to go there.”
View their Instagram and website.
2. Katy Biele
Biele’s expressive visual vocabulary and relentless inquisitiveness in surpassing traditional limits go beyond the constraints of mere medium and color, beckoning us into captivating realms of limitless imagination and intuition. Uniting paint and fiber, she orchestrates a harmony of textures that gracefully dance and intertwine, all set against a lively South American colour palette.
“We’ve discussed installing Katy’s thread sculptures in the woods and she’s done that now and I’m just very proud and impressed by how she’s maintained her love of colour in her work. She has come such a long way and really has honed her craft creating something totally unique.”
View their Instagram and website.
2. David Ellingsen
Ellingsen is a Canadian photo-based artist making work that speaks to the relationship between humans and the natural world, typically with long-term projects focusing on forests, biodiversity and climate. His work draws upon his family history, one often embedded within British Columbia’s troubled forest industry. His photographs reflect on the impacts of resource extraction and consumption on the other-than-human inhabitants of past, present, and future eco-systems. (via artist website)
“He’s an environmental activist. His work is photo based and embedded deeply in the world of conservation, and I’m very drawn to how he’s able to produce his work. He’s very dedicated to his mission, and still interested and focused on creating awareness while making artwork.”
View their Instagram and website.
3. Sara Khan
Khan scrutinizes the repulsion and beauty found in ordinary spaces and situations, and questions the normalcy of the seemingly mundane matters in life. For example; how a man inside a woman leads to the birth of another human; turning the woman into a mound of soil in which a human germinates like a plant from a seed, and in the process disfigures the woman to the limits of possibility. The idea is to develop a space or landscape with both extremes in it; the abhorrent and the fantastic. Co-existing to form one complete picture; thriving in the gray areas, it’s a subtle dance between “is it” and “is it not.” (via artist website)
“Her work encompasses mythical realism, and is generally figurative and highly narrative. Using the realm of folklore and storytelling, her work feels like a dream state. I’m really impressed by her ability to use the medium of watercolor and what she’s able to achieve using watercolor. Which is such an unforgiving medium. But it’s her superpower, so of course she’s able to use it the way she does.”
View their Instagram and their website.
4. Carla Tak
Drawing on years spent in psychotherapy and inspired by the bold abstractions of the postwar New York School, Tak explores the non-objective forms of the psychological drama of her own personal experiences. She employs her palette knife, brushes and hands as the means to manifest emotions, perceptions and memories. The aim is self-revelation through gestural release. The personal nature of Tak’s abstractions is further evidenced by her expressive use of script – a calligraphic style that came about through her many years of journal writing. Often rough and raw, Tak’s art emerges from a deeply felt awareness of her subconscious spirit to achieve lyrical beauty. (via artist website)
“Carla is a powerhouse. She’s unstoppable. I think this is in part due to her dedication to her practice. Her works are monumental and consuming. They really draw you in in a spectacular way.”
View their Instagram and website
5. Ben Skinner
Skinner’s practice explores the nature of language through the use of text and materiality. Calling on a vast knowledge of materials and methods, Skinner applies his hand to concepts that are by turn ironic, witty, introspective and questioning. His works often combine mechanical production methods common in sign making with traditional materials and techniques. Skinner has a keen eye for finishes that borders on obsessive, resulting in highly polished works with a quasi-fetish quality. (via artist website)
“His work is so smart. Not only the actual text in his text-focused pieces, but also the materials. I very much respect his extreme deep dive into the materiality of the work and also how it can be used. They’re funny, poignant or heartbreaking, thought-provoking, or provocative. And all of those things make his work so interesting.”
View their Instagram or website.
More about Pennylane Shen
As we delved into an insightful conversation, it became evident that Pennylane’s approach to art is deeply rooted in her extensive experience working one-on-one with artists. Through personalized consultations and advisory sessions, she plays a pivotal role in assisting artists with diverse goals and tasks aimed at advancing their art careers. This ranges from refining their artistic practice, both technically and conceptually, to addressing the business aspects of their art journey.
A cornerstone of Pennylane’s methodology lies in her dedication to fostering artists’ growth across various facets of their practice. Whether it involves approaching galleries, organizing exhibitions, or delving into the realms of marketing and promotion through social media and websites, she extends her expertise to guide artists through the intricate process of developing their artistic identity.
To learn more about Pennylane Shen and the impactful work she does at Dazed and Confucius, visit the official website: Dazed and Confucius.
Feature image: A Village Left Behind Sarah Khan