Mamook Ipsoot

In summer 2013, grunt gallery invited Dutch artist, Desiree Palmen, to visit Vancouver and work with seven local Aboriginal youth on a collaborative project called Mamook Ipsoot (Chinook Translation: To Hide or Make Hidden). This project was the Vancouver incarnation of Palmen’s art practice in which she helps youth camouflage themselves into a chosen setting within their urban landscape and photo-document the results. This project evolved out of Palmen’s performance arts practice of interventions in everyday scenarios. In 1999, Palmen used camouflage suits to intervene and respond to public surveillance cameras that monitored citizens without permission. She later expanded this idea into youth-driven projects in which she helps youth to explore how they connect with their surroundings and affirm their presence in familiar and favourite locations in their home city. These camouflage images were produced as bus shelter posters and could be seen in various off-site locations around Vancouver, from October to November. From October 16 to 19, grunt also held an exhibition of the large-scale posters hanging in the gallery. An opening reception on October 18 was attended by artist Desiree Palmen, Project Coordinator Jolene Andrew, and the project youth participants.