City of Nanaimo announces selection of 2025 Temporary Public Art projects

Public art projects by Kiranjot Kaur and Jackie Wong explore Nanaimo’s cultural history

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed November 1, 2024 10:00 AM

Summary

Two thought-provoking art projects by artists Kiranjot Kaur and Jackie Wong have been chosen for the City of Nanaimo’s 2025 Temporary Public Art Program.

The first project, “Histogram Histories,” by Kiranjot Kaur, will involve colourful hanging fabric cylinders, made from different fabrics. The artwork will provide visitors with multiple viewpoints, changing perspectives and the opportunity to experience statistical data in an artistic form. People in the community will be invited to add their own data, like the year they were born or when they arrived in Nanaimo, to be included in the display. The artist hopes this project will help people think about Nanaimo’s history in new ways.

Kiranjot Kaur is both an artist and a civil engineer working on her PhD in engineering at the University of British Columbia. She is self-taught in art and gets inspiration from her engineering work, Sikh philosophy, her Punjabi and Canadian heritage, her family’s fabric store, and being a mom.

The second project, "Lost Intersections,” is by artist Jackie Wong. This project will remember Nanaimo’s old Chinatowns, highlighting the history and contributions of Chinese people in the city. Jackie will make three art pieces, to be installed where each of the old Chinatowns used to be. Each piece will have a red neon light showing Chinese characters for the numbers one, two and three. Visitors can scan QR codes nearby to learn more about the history of each location. This project will help people learn about an important part of Nanaimo’s past that many may not know.

Jackie Wong grew up in Vancouver and now lives in Errington. She has a Fine Arts degree from UBC and has shown her work in several galleries. She works with photography, painting and ceramics.

“Histogram Histories” and “Lost Intersections” will be unveiled in 2025 and will be available for people to see and enjoy for up to five years.

The City of Nanaimo’s Temporary Public Art Program lets artists create art for public spaces. Artists can make different types of art, like sculptures, interactive pieces, or art that’s part of the landscape or buildings.

More about the Temporary Public Art Program can be found on the City's website.

Link to Strategic Plan: The Temporary Public Art Program aligns with the goals of the City of Nanaimo’s City Plan by facilitating opportunities for the public to encounter art and culture in public spaces throughout the city and as part of their daily experiences.

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