A photography exhibit in Nanaimo is examining obstructions that have been put up in the heart of the city.
Nanaimo-based photographer Aviva Stein-Wotten’s exhibit ‘Barriers,’ showing at Nightmare Oasis on Victoria Crescent, prominently features barriers that have been erected around many public spaces in the downtown core.
“I’ve noticed a lot of ‘rent-a-fences’ going up … and it made me feel rather sad and also a bit confused just to see so many public spaces fenced off,” the photographer said. “I can’t assume as to why exactly the fences are going up, but it seems to me it was out of safety reasoning … but it just seems to have had an opposite effect … It’s not just keeping people experiencing homelessness from being able to enjoy the park, but also everyone else. It’s a really jarring feeling to have that physical barrier all around us.”
Stein-Wotten has spent the past 30 years in Nanaimo, and said until quite recently she’s found the city to be very open, but now there has been a shift to self-protection.
“It’s a wider problem as more people are building fences between their neighbours to seemingly block off the outside world and hide from the realities of what we’re all dealing with,” she said, adding that there’s a departure from the ‘togetherness’ she felt during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The series includes colour and black-and-white photos, some of which are double exposed to juxtapose a feeling of isolation with the city’s busy downtown core.
“The double exposures are weaved enough to lend imagination for the viewers to take what they want out of it,” Stein-Wotten said.
The colour photos are also printed on a film stock the photographer thought would work well with black-and-white photos, emphasizing grey tones, to highlight the subject matter.
“It’s not really a happy scene when you see downtown,” she said. “I hope to spark some conversations about how we’re treating our public spaces. And even further to that, how we seem to be treating each other these days, especially coming out of a crazy pandemic.”
Stein-Wotten chose the boutique Nightmare Oasis for its location “in the heart of things” so viewers can examine her work and then step outside and live the subject matter first-hand. She said she would like to continue exploring the concept “under a wider lens” in the future.
‘Barriers’ can be viewed at 45 Victoria Cres. during business hours until July 31. Mia Dungeon, co-owner of Nightmare Oasis, will hold a reception for the series Aug. 5-6 with new additions by the photographer.
READ MORE: City of Nanaimo fences off downtown park due to people experiencing homelessness
mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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