East meets west

>> Kevin El-Ichi deForest crosses cultural borders with his artwork

by MATTHEW HAYS

Montreal artist Kevin El-Ichi deForest says the art that reaches him first, and cuts the deepest, is the work with a personal edge. “I’m always looking for some kind of personal relation to it,” says the painter, drawer and curator. “I’m always most moved by the work that comes from that kind of place.”
In his own work, that has translated to a focus on hybridity and his Japanese-Canadian identity. A graduate of Concordia’s MFA program, deForest’s work has manifested itself in paint, drawing and installation—each work trademarked by his own unique political consciousness. “Coming from a generation of artists whose work is very politically motivated, my work is a bit different,” explains deForest, who returned from Japan in ’99 after spending a year there exploring the national culture through his work. “There was so much discussion of gender identity and racial identity during the identity-politics ’80s. Now I don’t think you have to be spelling it out every time you make something.”
This spring, as well as having a solo show at Ottawa’s Gallery 101, deForest will be curating a show titled “Lovesexy” at Gallery B-312. “The theme of the show is sexiness. Basically, gay artists have pushed sexual politics and ideas around sexual art quite far. This show will have four straight artists looking at sexuality in a very direct, frank way, in light of those advancements.” :