The Canada Pavilion’s interactive installation, ‘Traces’, presents environmental concerns as an aesthetic and conceptual interpretation, inviting visitors to reflect on the role of humanity in topics ranging from climate change to endangered species.
Built by KANVA, a Montreal-based architectural firm, the installation comprises eight human-sized ‘boxes’, each with a different name, showcasing a particular theme: The Jewel, The Nearness, The Memorial, The Forgotten, The Seat, The Gathering, The Sanctuary and The Awareness.
The display shows a murmuration of exquisitely crafted birds, fossilized in mid-flight, within amber colored blocks, lit from within. It also shows an empty bird cage, with the door open, signifying accelerated environmental tragedy.
The installation reveals a vulnerability while encouraging awareness and urgency, through which visitors can consider collective and individual action.
In addition to highlighting the reality of environmental challenges, ‘Traces’ aims to invoke a sense of hope and empathy, leading to positive action. The installation, according to its creators, raises questions, but leaves the overall interpretation open.
