“Dreamland” triumphs over nature with an artwork that sends warning messages

Canada addresses the world at "Expo Dubai"... with a flock of birds and jewels from amber

  • Canadian artwork serves as an alarm.

    Photography: Youssef Al Harmoudi

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In a sublime and unique language, Canada addresses the world in its pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, to deliver to visitors a set of messages that represent the ideal values ​​​​in understanding life and human being, on top of which is that hope and prosperity that is achieved by appreciating the natural wealth of the earth, is the product of the human relationship that unites the minds and hearts The people who live on it, and that he is able to unite them, regardless of their different cultural backgrounds, and the geographical distances between them.

Canada - which is the “dream land” for many - chose a composite artwork to be one of the main pillars in its pavilion, to raise its voice high through it for the victory of nature and respect for life, as the visitor to the pavilion follows a group of birds on a journey symbolizing the suffering of living creatures that live on a planet His family of abusers attacked his precious and beautiful organic and vital capabilities, through a message narrated by a work of art with specifications of a special nature, called “Athar”.

outdoor patio

Those responsible for designing the idea of ​​the Canadian Pavilion preferred the outer courtyard surrounding it to display the work, which consists of a group of amber art forms, uttering messages formulated with deep connotations and signs that provoke the visitor to read their symbols and understand their meaning.

Through the artwork, Canada seeks to urge collective and individual participation in the international movement to protect the environment from the destructive changes that threaten it. Sending a message as an alarm bell that emphasizes the importance of a transparent, intimate and necessary dialogue between humans and nature.

"antiquities"

The “Jewel”, one of the artefacts that make up the artwork “Athar”, conveys an image of a flock of petrified birds in flight, which increases in size by approaching a shimmering light, which turns it when penetrating its core into a precious gem.

The jewel leaves the visitor in a state of contemplation and affection, making him come close to understanding the danger of losing the real life riches.

The Forgotten, which is also one of the components of Athar, represents a wrenching cry of beings stifled under the feet of human beings in an endless series of neglect and encroachment on the spirit of the earth that began centuries ago.

The work appears in cubic models that lie at the bottom of a corner of a long wall extending upwards, indicating the surface of the land we live on, at a time when humans trample with their feet those creatures that were buried in the ground, after they were killed by harm and destruction.

As for “The Seat”, it is a work inspired by the school classroom environment, indicating the importance of carrying out our daily duties similar to our duties during our learning at school.

Trapped, stalked and abused birds, representing all beautiful living creatures and precious natural resources, were placed inside the inner layer of the student's table, indicating that we must put the protection of ecological life in mind.

An invitation to meditate

As for the “sanctuary”, “assembly” and “awareness” works, which are also part of the “Athar” group of works, they imitate the visitor’s visual and intellectual senses and invite him to meditate, as the “sanctuary” bird cage is covered with a white robe to prevent people from entering it, and flocks soar in the cage From birds in movement inspired by the values ​​and concepts of freedom, respect and preservation of the living wealth of creatures.

The “gathering” places a group of petrified birds in the middle of a table around which a number of individuals gather, to symbolize the research into a thorny family issue that requires attention and discussion at the level of the international community with all its members and institutions, while the “awareness” anthropomorphic embodied a space that includes an empty cage of birds above four chairs. Once seated on it, the sweet melody of a bird garden gradually sings. The chirping of birds evokes feelings of sympathy, gives a sense of hope, and stimulates thought and awareness.

Not like any visit

A visitor's trip to the Canada Pavilion at "Expo 2020 Dubai" is not like any visit, because the messages of the country, which still represents the dreamland of many families and young people in the world, are not direct messages, and they were not written in a traditional way, but came in a language that shocked feelings about a global problem that threatens life Humans, the problem of the disappearance of natural living environments due to climate change, which threatens the disappearance of the most beautiful real wealth on this earth.

Canada, which is the second country in the world in terms of total area, is one of the countries in the world most concerned with issues of environmental conservation and respect for the rights of living creatures and natural resources.

• The work, made up of a number of artefacts, depicts the expected and imminent disappearance of natural resources and endangered species.


• Canada seeks through action to encourage collective and individual participation in the global movement to protect the environment from the devastating changes that threaten it.