From October 2 through January 2, The Pacific Gallery presents Comic Sans, an exhibition that showcases Sonny Assu’s bold and interdisciplinary approach to exploring Indigenous identity in modern-day Canada. Curated in collaboration with Equinox Gallery, the exhibition celebrates pop culture and traditional formline design.
Known for his ability to fuse traditional Kwakwaka’wakw formline design with elements of pop culture, sci-fi, comic books, and 90’s nostalgia, Assu’s Comic Sans challenges and redefines perceptions of Indigenous art and cultural identity. The works on view utilize formline – a complex visual language comprised of ovoid’s, s-shapes, and u-shapes historically used on totem poles, ceremonial objects, and masks to create dynamic, contemporary narratives that bridge the past and present.