Transformline

Description

The overall goal of this design is to push the limits of graphic simplicity within contemporary Coast Salish art. Without succumbing to a Haida-centric view of Northwest Coast art, I acknowledge that the works in Robert Davidson’s Abstract Edge” exhibit inspiRED this diptych design. Within the design, a human face transforming into an owl is depicted, as well as salmon heads with circular eyes and heads defined by the central, negative trigon. Through the Northwest Coast design device of visual punning, the transformation of life of land, air, and sea symbolizes the symbiotic interconnectedness of life on the circle of the earth.”-lessLIE This limited edition silkscreen print titled “Transformline” by lessLIE was hand produced by the screen printing process. It is the only limited edition printing of this design. The artist has inspected and signed each copy in the edition. All trial copies of this edition have been destroyed and the printing stencils obliterated.Leslie Robert Sam was born in Duncan, BC in 1973. He adopted the artist name lessLIE in reference to the deception and betrayal that First Nations peoples suffered as a result of colonization.When lessLIE was six months old, he and his mother moved to Seattle to be closer to other family members, in particular his grandfather, Gary Rice. lessLIE credits his grandfather with instilling in him, and encouraging the passion to be an artist. He believes that having spent those formative years in a large urban centre has influenced the direction of his art, as it relates to issues of environment, dispossession and race.lessLIE holds a B.A. in First Nations Studies. While working on his degree, in 1995, he began studying Coast Salish art, in particular, the works of contemporary artist Susan Point. He was also encouraged and inspired by his cousin Joseph Wilson. Other influences include Manuel Salazar, Maynard Johnny Jr., Shaun Peterson, and Luke Marston.lesslie’s works can be found in collections around the world and form part of the collection of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) and the Westf?lisches Museum f?r Naturkunde in M?nster, Germany.