This work is an extension of previous works that, informed by theories of queer ecology explores the connection between the human/animal body and the natural world, working towards the blurring of commonly perceived binaries and dichotomies. By mirroring and rotating imagery in a bisymmetrically vertical orientation, suggestions of openings, portals, body parts and creatures appear and disappear - suggesting interconnectivity and fluidity between the macro and micro, the biotic and abiotic, and the human and non-human. For this work, which I began in Argentina at the Coordenadas Residencia (part of Red Head Gallery’s exchange), I cut stencils using drawings made while exploring the streets, galleries, buildings and ecological areas of the city. I rotated and mirrored these along the vertical axis of heavy watercolour paper, cut to the tiered shape that appeared in the architectural structure of the residence building. The modular pieces can be installed in various configurations. This is ongoing work – I have completed the four shown here, and more will be added to my upcoming exhibition at the Red Head Gallery in April 2026.
Pearl Van Geest, Broken Forest: Reflection and Refraction. watercolour on paper, mounted on board, each panel 71.1 × 35.6 cm (28 x 14in).
Member since: 2023
Number of exhibitions at the gallery: 1
Tell us a story about Red Head: I love the comradery, support and collaborations that are part of being a member of Red Head Gallery. I was excited and proud to join Red Head, not only to exhibit in the same gallery as my great friend and collaborator, James Fowler, but to be part of a space with other artists who I know and admire. Since being a student at OCAD in the 90’s the shows there were always inspiring and a frequent destination.
I have met many new artists through our international collaborations such as with PlanD in Dusseldorf, Germany and Coordenadas Residencia in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The challenges of these exchanges have necessitated new processes which continue to inform my practice.
Other events closer to home have been fun and inspirational: the fundraiser that we did together at the gallery for the Argentinian exchange; the Nuit Blanche fundraiser making an artwork each hour for 24 hours; and the “field trips” - to Buffalo AKG Art Gallery, the World Of Threads exhibition and Tazeen Quayym’s home and gallery in Oakville.
Pearl Van Geest (she/her) is a queer Canadian artist, writer, curator and arts educator, practicing since graduating from OCAD in 1996. She also holds a BSc, MFA and BEd. Her work is included in private and public collections, including the Canadian Arts Council’s Art Bank. She was short-listed for the RBC Painting Prize (2003), and was the recipient of the Canadian Art Foundation’s Art Writing Prize in 2015. Most recently, she co-curated Queer Up North (2024-25) with James Fowler, an extensive collaborative project including a 2SLGBTQI+ residency, a series of exhibitions (Wild Waysides: Queer Ecologies) and symposia. She teaches at Brock University.
