Treason of Images ~ Kent Monkman (Cree)

Kent Monkman, a Canadian artist with Cree ancestry, grew up in Manitoba where he became painfully aware of the tragic result of Canada's past colonialism, the subsequent racism and the fallout from residential schools. All these issues related to First Nations culture, issues that deeply affected how he viewed the world. This collision of cultures forms the basis for his work, as Monkman’s paintings turn stereotypical images of First Nations people on their head. He paints surprising stories of colonization, erotic images of men and women, and aboriginal identity where the commentary can be interpreted in many different ways, usually spiced with his wry sense of humor.

A reoccurring character in Monkman’s portfolio is that of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, which is the artist’s drag queen alter ego. A large portion of his work reflects on the two-spirit gender identity that is traditionally seen as valuable to society among First Nation and Native American peoples. Two-spirited people carry both male and female traits. A non-Indian audience will interpret that as homosexuality, but being two-spirited is deeper than that in the First Nations culture. “It's important to explore how this identity was repressed and why,” said Monkman.