A collection of some of the earliest photographs of British Columbia will be showcased in a historical exhibition at Presentation House Gallery starting March 30th, 2016.
The photography exhibit, NANITCH: Early Photographs of British Columbia from the Langmann Collection, “explores the dramatic changes taking place in British Columbia from 1860 to the early twentieth century.”
The once private collection was donated to UBC and will now be on display for the public. The exhibit highlights the rapid transformation of the once colonial territory. A selection of photographs, stereocards, glass negatives, rare government expedition albums and other objects will be featured.
About NANITCH
NANITCH means “to look and watch” in Chinook Jargon — a trade language common in the Pacific Northwest. The exhibition brings focus to the significant role of the camera in colonization and calls on viewers to question colonialist narratives of progress. NANITCH emphasizes the contradictions of settlement and asks viewers to look more closely at BC’s complex social and political history. Included are early photographic albums documenting official land surveys, family portraits, industrial ventures, and Indigenous peoples and their displacement.
Presentation House Gallery has been celebrated as a photography and media art platform for over 40 years. In 2017, it will open in a new waterfront facility, Polygon Gallery, in North Vancouver.
Written by: Amar Mirchandani @amarmirch
Photos: Presentation House Gallery