October 23rd – December 12th, 2024, Massy Arts will host, Indian Time, a window display by art director, photographer, designer, and storyteller Kikki Guerard.

Indian Time is an art installation consisting of two elements, a photo titled ᓂᓰᑳᐨ and a hat, namesake of the installation. The artist shares “I often think about the two worlds that I navigate: Indigenous worldviews and the Western worldviews. I find myself lovingly daydreaming of a world before colonization. For me, ‘Indian time’ is a way of life.”

About the hat

The bold and playful font and colours are a love letter to Two-Spirit + Indigiqueer brilliance while exploring the intricacies of shapeshifting and travelling between worlds.

I have reflected on several questions in this creative process: What does it mean to be on Indian time when time does not exist in specific spaces? What is a cheeky way of communicating with a non-Indigenous audience? How can I protect myself from non-Indigenous worldviews? How can I encourage intentionality, community, and respect for our lands + spaces?

Additionally, this exploration has led me to consider how every space I enter transforms into a Two-Spirit space, a queer space, and a sacred space. Through this work, I aim to engage viewers in a dialogue about the significance of these concepts and how they shape our understanding of time, space, and identity.

About the photo

ᓂᓰᑳᐨ embodies a sense of quietude and deliberate presence, reflecting the slower, more intentional pace inherent in many Indigenous philosophies. This photo is a visual exploration of how this concept translates into a physical space and the ways in which it manifests in my identity and artistic practice.

The hat, featured prominently in the photo, is a celebration of our abilities as Two-Spirit people, to traverse and shapeshift between different worlds—both physical and metaphysical.

I aim to communicate the essence of ‘Indian time’ beyond mere punctuality. It serves as a meditation on the fluidity of time and the transformation of spaces through intention and presence. By presenting this concept through fashion and visual art, I seek to engage non-Indigenous audiences in a dialogue about Indigenous ways of being and thinking. My goal is to inspire a deeper understanding of how these perspectives can foster more intentional, community focused interactions with our world—honoring the land, waters, and the diverse spaces we inhabit.

Ultimately, ᓂᓰᑳᐨ invites viewers to reflect on their own relationship with time and space and to appreciate the ways in which we can all move more thoughtfully through the world.

This project is supported by the British Columbia Arts Council.

The Massy Arts Gallery is located at 23 East Pender Street in Chinatown, Vancouver.
The gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm to 5pm.
Entrance is free, and masks are mandatory.

To contact the gallery, send an email to: info@massyarts.com

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About the artist

A Two-Spirit Cree from Treaty 9 territory, Kikki is an art director, photographer, designer, and storyteller. They are a member of Taykwa Tagamou First Nation and currently reside in Tkaron:to, working in the Indigenous film sector. They pursued a post-secondary education in Photography & Marketing at OCAD University. Kikki specializes in beauty + fashion photography while having extensive experience in leading creative teams and global campaigns. Kikki’s work explores themes of identity, revealing the magic and vulnerability of their community. Through the power of visual storytelling, they hope to create spaces for healing and transformation.