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Ameen Gill
The Mango Tree, 1999 (detail)
Book #1Lithograph/Artist book
7.75" x 14.5"
My current work is inspired by a trip I took to India in 1996. I was born and raised on the West Coast of Canada. This was my third trip to India, but this time I was going in search of answers. Who I was, where I was from and where I was going.
I quickly realized India is where my parents were from, and I am a Canadian of Indian heritage. My brother has traced our family tree back 6 generations. We are fortunate to have many well-preserved photos dating back to the 1920's and earlier. I want to find out as much as I can about our family history. I am fascinated by the stories about my ancestors.
In my artwork I have been exploring the format of artist's books (handprinted and handbound).The format of the accordion fold book lent itself naturally to the ideas I had of documenting my journey in India and my family tree. The story is told via a long running image made up of maps, photos, journal entries and drawings. The paper is printed on both sides and bound with handmade Indian paper and silk trims.
| Ameen Gill graduated from Emily Carr College of Art and Design in 1989 in 2-D Studies. She has been concentrating in printmaking, and exhibiting her work regularly in Vancouver as well as in group exhibitions nationally and internationally. She was an active member of Malaspina Printmakers Society, serving on the Board, and in 1999 as the Vice President. In addition, she has been a guest artist at Langara College, Emily Carr Institute, and Burnaby Central High School. In 1998, she taught an Introduction to Printmaking class at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. Presently she is living in Seattle and working at Stone Press Editions, a collaborative Lithography studio. |
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