Kanata Project Image Series 2016

Greg Hill’s contemporary art installations, performances and digital imagery explore his Kanyen'kehaka (Mohawk) identity, concepts of Canadian colonialism, nationalism, place and community and various socio-cultural changes within. His art questions what is 'Indian'? The Kanata Project Image Series 2016 is composed of nine images spanning 2003 until 2015. They are based on the artist’s Millennium project that was launched before 2000, in which the National Capital Region was framed as the symbolic centre of the nation. This project was to create a new identity for Canada that recognizes and honours indigenous country origins. By redesigning these Canadian symbols and using the original Iroquoian word “Kanata”, Hill draws attention to these issues to challenge the origin of past and present ideas of Ottawa communities, we assume are fixed national symbols. Born in Fort Erie, Ontario, Hill is a member of the Six Nations of Grand River Territory. He holds a Master of Arts in Northern and Native Studies, Canadian Studies at Carleton University, and a Bachelor of Fine Art from University of Windsor. Since 2007 he has been the Curator and department head of Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Canada, specializing in the development of the Aboriginal Art collection.